EMS Magazine Challenges Healthcare Reform and Its Impact on Life and Death Emergencies

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"Squeeze Me Tighter" selected as finalist for Jesse H. Neal Award

Fort Atkinson, WI (January 25, 2010) – In the wake of the historic U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts, healthcare reform is again front and center with many industry insiders anticipating a redrawing of the legislation. EMS Magazine's John Erich was one of the first to examine the initial H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act, and how various provisions in the bill would affect the EMS community. His article, Squeeze Me Tighter, which appeared in the October issue, , not only earned praise from the EMS community, it is a finalist for a prestigious Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for Best Single Article.

"There are components in [the bill], frankly, that should be of great concern to EMS and the ambulance transport industry," wrote Erich. "The well-intended efforts of lawmakers could lead to unintended consequences with profound ramifications for the way we do business."

At issue are reimbursement cuts, a new productivity adjustment, bundling that would provide a single reimbursement to a range of care for one patient, and more scrutiny on non-medically necessary procedures.

"Ambulance services are easy targets for those types of efforts, because the rules are pretty vague, and medical necessity can be subjective," said Rick Keller, an expert on EMS finance and resource utilization with industry consultants Fitch & Associates.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a growing demand for emergency transport due in large part to America’s aging population.

"In addition, the time that EMTs and paramedics must spend with each patient is increasing as emergency departments across the country are experiencing overcrowding. As a result, when an ambulance arrives, it takes longer to transfer the patient from the care of the EMTs and paramedics to the staff of the emergency department," says the BLS.

Read the entire EMS Magazine article at EMSResponder.com.

The Jesse H. Neal Awards, which have been called "the Pulitzer Prize of the business media," are the industry's most prestigious and sought-after editorial honors. Established in 1955, the Neal Awards recognize and reward editorial and are presented annually to those editors whose journalistic approach and editorial integrity has set them apart from their peers.

Founded in 1972, EMS Magazine was the first publication to serve the EMS profession and continues as the most authoritative voice in the world for clinical and educational material. The magazine reaches more EMS decision-makers than any other EMS publication and is the number one magazine in the field for editorial quality, reader interest and advertising.

EMSResponder.com provides mission-critical news, information, training and resources for the emergency medical service responder, and serves as a platform for online discussion and interaction.

EMS Magazine and EMSResponder.com are properties of Cygnus Business Media, an internationally-recognized business-to-business media company. Its diverse portfolio serves 13 market categories with print and interactive products, and live events. Through its media, the company reaches more than 1.5 million print subscribers, nearly 1 million industry professionals via its Custom Marketing services group and expositions, and attracts 2 million unique visitors to its websites monthly. Cygnus Business Media provides comprehensive, integrated advertising and marketing programs for some of the world’s strongest business-to-business brands. For more information, visit www.cygnusb2b.com.