PWW Advisory Group

A Peek at 8 Things Attendees will Learn at abc360 in Hershey: 1. Which forms MACs require ambulance services to submit by mail and not electronically through PECOS. 2. How newly released “signature legibility” guidance could affect crewmember signatures and signature compliance practices. 3. What procedure Medicare is proposing to add as an ALS2 procedure. 4. How a recent Supreme Court ruling could significantly change the way CMS auditors and Administrative Law Judges interpret ambulance rules. 5. What the future of supplemental GEMT Medicaid payment programs holds, and whether agencies participating in these programs may be asked to pay back GEMT money. 6. Why the volume of Medicare Part B transports are actually declining, and the reasons behind it. 7. Four steps your agency can take now to decrease your risk of a data breach. 8. What the second HIPAA ambulance settlement can teach us about handling requests for medical records. You can learn this and MUCH more if you join us in Hershey - It's not too late to register - https://lnkd.in/gnhkvUUV

Early Bird Ends at MIDNIGHT TONIGHT...last chance to save over $300! What will Ryan come up with this year for our Game Show? Vote in our POLL! https://lnkd.in/ewWZKzqZ

Early Bird Rates for Hershey Expire TOMORROW at Midnight! Your last chance at over $300 in savings! Register today at https://lnkd.in/gnhkvUUV

Steve Wirth, Matt Zavadsky & Douglas Wolfberg were presenters at EMS World Expo in Las Vegas this week. Steve spoke about Laughable Lawsuits: Unique, Odd, and Downright Funny Legal Cases We Can Learn From; Matt covered Myth Busters: Slaying EMS Sacred Cows and Douglas offered information on How the Myth of Patient Abandonment Stifles EMS Innovation. They also did presentations on Innovative Funding for EMS, and Community Paramedicine, the Swiss Army Knife of EMS. We thank everyone who attended these sessions and hope you all enjoyed Expo!

Hershey Early Bird Ends in 10 Days! If you are not registered already, what are you waiting for? Save over $300 when you register today! https://lnkd.in/gnhkvUUV

Dan Pedersen and Steve Wirth were in beautiful Gatlinburg, Tennessee, this week for the annual Tennessee Ambulance Service Association reimbursement conference, where they were the main presenters. A jury of EMS peers also deliberated on the case of John Stiff vs Podunk Ambulance Service (fictional name), as Dan and Steve presented a mock EMS documentation trial as the closing session. A fun time was had by all! PWW attorneys and consultants have been presenting at TASA for many years, and it was so good to see old friends and meet new ones at this very well-attended state association meeting. TASA has done an excellent job for their members. It is so important to be active in your state association as we confront the many challenges in mobile healthcare over the next few years. Thank you, TASA, for having us!

On August 15, Steve Wirth was interviewed by IAFC-TV after his keynote presentation at the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire Rescue International conference at the Dallas Convention Center, where thousands of fire service and EMS professionals from around the country and the world gathered for the IAFC’s leading annual event. Steve’s presentation was on the “Criminalization of Medical Errors and Lessons Learned from the EMS Homicide Cases,” which discussed the recent tragic cases that have made headlines. In this 6-minute interview, Steve describes to news reporter Autria Godfrey some of the “take aways” from that session, including the steps that EMS practitioners and leadership can take to help avoid criminal and civil liability in patient care situations. Steve discussed the importance of empathy, compassion, communication, and being a patient advocate in all aspects of what we do, including difficult situations where a patient may be in the custody of law enforcement. He also described the future impact these cases may have on EMS and how these cases are a wake-up call to refocus our efforts on the importance of patient-centered care. You can watch Steve's interview below. https://lnkd.in/eGxQH86F

abc360 Featured Session: TQM for RCM - How Total Quality Management Can Improve Your Revenue Cycle. Join us in Hershey on October 20-24 at the Hershey Lodge and learn how incorporating Total Quality Management (TQM) can significantly improve your revenue cycle management (RCM) system from call intake to revenue integrity. TQM can enhance RCM through: Streamlined Processes: TQM principles involve the continuous evaluation and improvement of operational processes. By optimizing procedures such as call intake, documentation, and benchmarking, agencies can reduce errors and delays, leading to improved RCM. Accurate Billing: Implementation of TQM promotes better training for staff involved in data entry and billing. This reduces coding mistakes and ensures that claims are submitted correctly the first time, decreasing rejections and denials, which can lead to delays in the revenue cycle. Employee Involvement and Training: TQM fosters a culture where all employees are involved in quality improvement efforts. Ongoing training and empowerment of staff can lead to heightened attention to detail, better service delivery, and more efficient billing practices. Data-Driven Decisions: TQM encourages the use of data to analyze and improve processes. By analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) related to the revenue cycle, such as claim denials or collection times, organizations can identify problem areas and implement strategic changes. Collaboration with Payers: A TQM approach can lead to better relationships with insurance companies and other payers. Improving communication and understanding of payer requirements can result in fewer claim disputes and faster reimbursements. Cost Reductions: By focusing on quality and efficiency, TQM helps identify wasteful practices. Reducing costs improves the overall financial health of the ambulance service, positively impacting the revenue cycle. Sustained Commitment to Quality: A commitment to continuous quality improvement creates an environment where all stakeholders—from practitioners to administration—are focused on improving services and, consequently, the performance of the organization. Come find out why so many ambulance services and revenue cycle management companies are incorporating TQM into their RCM Register TODAY! https://lnkd.in/gnhkvUUV

Meet our XI Keynote Speaker - Catherine Kulhmann. We are excited to hear her message at our upcoming XI Conferences for the 2024-2025 season. https://lnkd.in/e5cnHWnj

Steve Wirth was the Keynote Speaker for the Fire Rescue International Conference in Dallas, TX this morning. He presented The Criminalization of Medical Errors - Lessons Learned from the Elijiah McClain Trial and Other Criminal Cases Involving EMS Practitioners.