This bill requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a new program that allows Medicare to pay for emergency medical services when paramedics treat patients on-site without transporting them to a hospital. The model would apply to ground ambulance providers responding to emergency calls and would set payment rates equivalent to what Medicare would pay if transport had occurred, following state and local medical protocols. The test program would run for five years, affecting Medicare beneficiaries who receive emergency medical care. Within four years of implementation, the Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on how the program affects patient outcomes, healthcare costs, and access to emergency services across different regions and demographics. The bill aims to improve emergency medical services access and efficiency by providing payment options for treatment without unnecessary hospital transport.
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