SENATE BILL REPORT

E2SHB 1358

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Directs the Health Care Authority to adopt reimbursement standards for fire departments providing covered health care services to Medicaid clients who do not require ambulance transport to an emergency department.
Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to conduct a cost-effectiveness review of the reimbursement standards for fire departments.

Background: Fire departments may establish community assistance referral and education services (CARES) programs. A CARES program provides community outreach and assistance to residents to improve population health and promote injury and illness prevention. A CARES program identifies members of the community who use the 911 system or emergency departments for nonemergency or non-urgent assistant calls. A CARES program connects residents with health care professionals, low-cost medication programs, and social services. A CARES program must measure reductions in the repeated use of the 911 system and any associated reductions in avoidable emergency department trips.

Fire departments may fund CARES programs through grants and private gifts. The term fire departments includes city and town fire departments, fire protection districts, regional fire protection service authorities, emergency medical service providers that levy a tax, and federally recognized Indian tribes.

The programs may hire health care professionals to perform the services. The health care professionals may include emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, and paramedics if they are trained and certified to provide the service and they practice under the supervision and direction of a medical program director.

Summary of Bill: The Health Care Authority (Authority) must adopt reimbursement standards for fire departments providing covered health care services through a CARES program to Medicaid clients who do not require ambulance transport to an emergency department. In addition to grants and private gifts, fire departments may fund a CARES program through the establishment and collection of reasonable charges, if approved by resolution or ordinance.

The term fire department is expanded to include entities that are eligible to impose an emergency medical care and services levy, rather than only those entities that actually impose such a levy.

By December 1, 2021, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC), in consultation with the Authority, must conduct a cost-effectiveness review of the reimbursement standards and submit the results to the fiscal and health policy committees of the Legislature. The review must compare the amount paid to fire departments under the reimbursement standards to the amount that would have been paid if the services had been provided in a different setting. The review must identify any savings from the reimbursement standards and make recommendations to reduce the potential for excessive billing or billing for unnecessary services. If the review finds that the reimbursement standards have not resulted in savings to medical assistance programs, the JLARC must recommend the repeal of the standards.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: We have been running this community services program since 2013 and have been piecing together the funding with grants. The default for ambulance response is to transport the caller to an emergency department, but this program allows fewer transports and emergency department admissions. If the program is properly funded it could save a lot of money from emergency department diversions. Arizona is seeking an amendment from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for reimbursement for these services and we would like to replicate that to allow payment in Washington. Prior to 2013, fire department responses to emergency calls were limited to deliveries to emergency departments. The 2013 act allowed fire departments to identify low acuity callers and divert them to appropriate care or resources, but it hasn't allowed reimbursement for the services. We had an evaluation of the CARES program completed by a consultant group that shows the program results in a reduction in costs in the health system, improved care utilization for patients, and improved patient experience. The savings for Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority CARES showed reduced costs to the fire department of $600,000 annually, reduced costs to the health system of $1 million annually, and improved health services utilization with a reduction of 200 visits to the emergency department annually. Fire chiefs support this bill. This bill saves money when we can divert unnecessary transportation, saves time, and keeps emergency services available to respond to true emergencies.

OTHER: We support the idea of the community services program and appreciate the amendment made in the House that broadened the definition to allow fire departments without a tax to participate. There are areas in the state where there are no professional fire fighters or paramedics. We are interested in doing the work and staying included in the language.