S. 3145: Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies Act of 2025

The Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies Act of 2025 aims to amend the Social Security Act by requiring the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to develop and test a new model for providing emergency services to Medicare beneficiaries. Here’s what the bill outlines:

1. Purpose

The primary goal of this legislation is to establish a new payment model for emergency medical services. Specifically, it focuses on the treatment provided by ground ambulance services, allowing for reimbursement even when individuals do not require transport to a medical facility.

2. Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies Model

This model will permit payment for ambulance services that:

• Include dispatch of ground ambulance vehicles without necessarily resulting in patient transport.
• Are provided in response to an emergency medical call made for an individual who is enrolled in Medicare.
• Follow state and local regulations regarding emergency medical services, which may involve telehealth connections.

3. Payment Structure

For services provided under this new model:

• The Secretary of Health and Human Services will set payment rates that align with the rates for traditional transportation services.
• If telehealth services are part of the care provided, the site of the patient receiving telehealth will be recognized as an originating site for payment purposes.

4. Duration of the Model

The new model will be implemented for a period of five years, allowing for sufficient time to evaluate its effectiveness.

5. Reporting Requirements

Within four years of the model's implementation, a report must be submitted to Congress that will analyze the model's impact on:

• Access to emergency medical services for Medicare beneficiaries.
• Outcomes for beneficiaries using the new model compared to traditional emergency services.
• Regional differences affecting the availability of these services.
• Best practices and potential challenges in implementing the model.
• Recommendations for improvements in emergency medical services.

Relevant Companies

• AMZN - Amazon could be affected as they have invested in healthcare initiatives, including telehealth services.
• AON - Aon provides health insurance and could see implications related to changes in coverage for emergency services.
• AXP - American Express may face shifts in healthcare spending patterns impacting credit activities related to medical billing.