EMS EVOLUTION 2020's Preliminary Agenda; Your Chance to Participate

August 10-12 at the Horseshoe Bay Resort

EMS EVOLUTION 2020 will feature a new agenda:

• The leadership track (August 10-12) will feature new presentations.
• The billing/coding course (Tuesday, August 11) will once again feature Gail Atnip of Novitas and Brian Werfel.
• New in 2020: Emerging Leaders Track (Monday, August 10). This new track is designed for emerging leaders in EMS agencies to equip them with the tools necessary to eventually lead an agency.

Texas' State Plan Amendment Proposal for CMS Would Address Fee-for-Service Medicaid

Average Commercial Reimbursement Funding Model

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) recently submitted a state plan amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) related to Medicaid reimbursement related to certain fee-for-service ground ambulance services. The proposal focuses on an average commercial reimbursement model.

Click here to read the proposal. TEMSA will provide more information in the future.

Introducing TEMSA's Public Policy Primer for Lawmakers

To Be Updated with TEMSA's 2021 Legislative Priorities

Attendees at TEMSA's seminar on November 25 received a copy.

The purpose of the primer is to help lawmakers understand how their public policy actions affect Texas EMS agencies. TEMSA will continue to add new public policy issues to this primer as TEMSA approves new legislative priorities for the 2021 Texas Legislature.

Click here to view the online version.

If you would like to invite lawmakers to your EMS agency, TEMSA will help you with communication pieces.

Medical Billing Tax Delayed Until April 1

Texas Comptroller's Decision

TEMSA's last e-mail newsletter told you about the Texas Comptroller's decision to tax medical billing services. Since then, a delay until April 1, 2020, was announced. Click here to read about the delay.

The Comptroller's office is willing to answer questions. If you have a question about the new policy, please reply to this e-mail.

TEMSA's original note related to this issue can be found below. Legislative action is likely in the 2021 Texas Legislature. 

The Texas Comptroller's office announced on November 22 that medical billing services will be taxed beginning on January 1, 2020. Click here to learn more from the Texas Medical Association.

For background, "insurance" is taxable under Texas law, and that is what the Comptroller's office determined in the ruling. Medical billing services were viewed by the Comptroller as taxable insurance claims adjustment or claims processing up until 2002.

In-house billing and non-profits that are recognized as sales tax-exempt by the Comptroller's office would be exempt.

TEMSA will pass along an update on this issue before the end of the year.

Rule to Implement First Responder Cancer Presumption Law Finalized

SB 2551 from the 2019 Texas Legislature

The Texas Department of Insurance - Division of Workers' Compensation (TDI-DWC) recently finalized its rule related to SB 2551, which amended the state's cancer presumption law for first responders.

Click here to read more from TDI-DWC.

West Georgia Ambulance, Inc. Settles HIPAA Violation

Federal Government's Office for Civil Rights

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently announced that it settled an EMS agency's HIPAA violation for $65,000.

Per the settlement:

On February 11, 2013, the Covered Entity submitted a breach report to OCR that described a breach that occurred on December 13, 2012. The breach occurred when an unencrypted laptop fell off the back bumper of an ambulance. The laptop was not recovered. The Covered Entity reported that exactly 500 individuals were affected by the breach.

Click here to read the settlement.

How Do You Send a Message to TEMSA's Listserv?

Open to Texas EMS Agencies

If you are a member of TEMSA's listserv, you can send an e-mail to it through this e-mail address:

If you would like to join the listserv, reply to this e-mail.

Thanks to Our Sponsors for EMS EVOLUTION 2019

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Silver
Aladtec
Columbia Southern University
Digitech Computer
Emergicon
EMS Management & Consultants
Ferno
1st Pass Healthcare Solutions
Grant Mercantile Agency
Health Claims Plus
Henry Schein
Life-Assist
NAAC
Nationwide Recovery Systems
Nav Central
R1
Radcliffe Bobbitt Adams Polley PLLC
Rescue Lift
School of EMS
Solutions Group
Stryker
VFIS of Texas
Wakefield & Associates