Quality-Based Reimbursement: Will It Weed Out the Weak?

“Ultimately, if these models are successful, we have the opportunity to shift the payment mechanism for ambulance services away from transport-only to something that’s more effective, more efficient, and better for the patient,” Keller says. “Ambulance services wouldn’t just be compensated for moving the patient to the highest cost center: the emergency room. They could be compensated for a multitude of other things that really will benefit patients and make the healthcare system more efficient.

“It’s potentially a win-win, but if the people making the decisions don’t understand the opportunity, we may not get a seat at the table to demonstrate it.”