INDUSTRYNEWS Industry News HHS Must Pay for an Air Transport A reversal of a ruling by the Secretary of the Health and Human Services to disallow the costs of transporting a patient via an air ambulance from Buffalo, N.Y., to Cleveland, Ohio, has been upheld. The original ruling was "not supported by substantial evidence and was pro- perly reversed by a federal magistrate," according to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. In the case, the patient's doctor certified that the patient needed an emergency angioplasty procedure that could not be performed at either of the two nearest hospitals; those hospitals accepted only stable, non- emergency patients for angioplasty. The Medicare car- rier denied the claim, and an administrative law judge found that the patient did not present any evidence that the procedure could not be performed at a closer loca- tion. The federal magistrate, however, reversed this finding and ordered Medicare to pay for the air medical transport. The U.S. District Court agreed, stating that under the "treating physician" rule applicable to Social Security Disability cases, the opinion of a patient's treat- ing physician was enough to allow the payment. According to attorney R. Michael Scarano, who spe- cializes in health care issues, this ruling represents a "positive development" for air medical providers. It also signals a deference by the courts to the attending physi- cian's opinion as to the best mode of transportation, he said. Scarano cautioned, however, that this was a trial court decision, not an appellate court ruling, so it may not significantly alter how the Secretary of HHS decides on similiar claims. cussing alternative arrangements to complete the acqui- sition, which will be contingent in part on Air Methods obtaining the proper financing. Air Methods reported a loss of $2.9 million during their fiscal-year 1992 (which ended June 30, 1992). Despite those numbers, however, Air Methods claimed record overall revenues of 819.2 million for the year. The losses were tied to the cost of starting four new hos- pital-based programs, the subsequent addition of four helicopters and the cost of discontinuing research ef- forts by Cell Technology, a Delaware-based company Air Methods merged with in 1991. To offset the losses, Air Methods has instigated an expense-control program in non-operating administrative areas. The 1993 fiscal year for Air Methods is looking bright, however, with reported revenues of 85.3 million for the first quarter, and a profit of $35,000. Air Methods revenues were driven in part by the addition of two new hospital contracts. In other Air Methods news, the company was awarded Dec. 10, 1992, a $1.75 million contract to develop and manufacture the first completely integrated airborne medical system for administering intensive care inside the U.S. Army's UH-60 Q DUSTOFF heli- copter. The UH-60 Q, manufactured by Sikorsky Helicopter Systems, is a variant of the UH-60 Blackhawk. Part of the design will be the ability to transform the Blackhawk from an emergency medevac platform to a medical personnel and supplies transport aircraft. Additionally, this helicopter configuration is to allow the aircraft to operate either on the battlefield or in response to civilian disaster-relief efforts. Air Methods Delays Acquisition But Gets Government Contract In announcing its fiscal-year financial report, Air Methods Corp., of Englewood, Colo., also announced the deferment of its acquisition of American Air Ambulance, of Dallas, Texas. The acquisition agreement was announced April 21, 1992. American Air Ambulance is a fixed-wing EMS operator servicing 13 hospitals in five states. The two companies plan to continue dis- New Certification Program for Flight Nurses "The National Flight Nurses Association and the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing have introduced a new credential and national certification exam for flight nurses. According to Leary Cox, RN, CEN, presi- dent of NFNA, the new credential--Certified Flight Registered Nurse--will "demonstrate that an individual has acquired the knowledge necessary to practice the specialty of flight nursing." Air Medical Journal • January/February1993 29
Transcript
INDUSTRY NEWS
Industry News
HHS Must Pay for an Air Transport A reversal of a ruling by the Secretary of the Health and Human Services to disallow the costs of transporting a patient via an air ambulance from Buffalo, N.Y., to Cleveland, Ohio, has been upheld. The original ruling was "not supported by substantial evidence and was pro- perly reversed by a federal magistrate," according to the U.S. Distr ict Court for the Wes te rn Distr ict of New York.
In the case, the patient's doctor certified that the patient needed an emergency angioplasty procedure that could not be performed at either of the two nearest hospitals; those hospitals accepted only stable, non- emergency patients for angioplasty. The Medicare car- rier denied the claim, and an administrative law judge found that the patient did not present any evidence that the procedure could not be performed at a closer loca- tion. The federal magistrate, however, reversed this finding and ordered Medicare to pay for the air medical transport.
The U.S. District Court agreed, stating that under the "treating physician" rule applicable to Social Security Disability cases, the opinion of a pat ient 's treat- ing physician was enough to allow the payment.
According to attorney R. Michael Scarano, who spe- cializes in health care issues, this ruling represents a "positive development" for air medical providers. It also signals a deference by the courts to the attending physi- cian's opinion as to the best mode of transportation, he said. Scarano cautioned, however, that this was a trial court decision, not an appellate court ruling, so it may not significantly alter how the Secretary of HHS decides on similiar claims.
cussing alternative arrangements to complete the acqui- sition, which will be contingent in part on Air Methods obtaining the proper financing.
Air Methods reported a loss of $2.9 million during their fiscal-year 1992 (which ended June 30, 1992). Despite those numbers, however, Air Methods claimed record overall revenues of 819.2 million for the year. The losses were tied to the cost of starting four new hos- pital-based programs, the subsequent addition of four helicopters and the cost of discontinuing research ef- forts by Cell Technology, a Delaware-based company Air Methods merged with in 1991. To offset the losses, Air Methods has instigated an expense-control program in non-operating administrative areas.
The 1993 fiscal year for Air Methods is looking bright, however, with reported revenues of 85.3 million for the first quarter, and a profit of $35,000. Air Methods revenues were driven in part by the addition of two new hospital contracts.
In o ther Air Methods news, the company was awarded Dec. 10, 1992, a $1.75 million contract to develop and manufacture the first completely integrated airborne medical system for administering intensive care inside the U.S. Army's UH-60 Q DUSTOFF heli- copter. The UH-60 Q, manufac tured by Sikorsky Hel icopter Systems, is a variant of the UH-60 Blackhawk. Part of the design will be the ability to transform the Blackhawk from an emergency medevac platform to a medical personnel and supplies transport aircraft. Additionally, this helicopter configuration is to allow the aircraft to operate either on the battlefield or in response to civilian disaster-relief efforts.
Air Methods Delays Acquisition But Gets Government Contract In announcing its fiscal-year financial report, Air Methods Corp., of Englewood, Colo., also announced the de fe rmen t of its acquisi t ion of Amer ican Air Ambulance, of Dallas, Texas. The acquisition agreement was announced April 21, 1992. American Air Ambulance is a fixed-wing EMS operator servicing 13 hospitals in five states. The two companies plan to continue dis-
New Certification Program for Flight Nurses "The National Flight Nurses Association and the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing have introduced a new credential and national certification exam for flight nurses. According to Leary Cox, RN, CEN, presi- dent of NFNA, the new c reden t ia l - -Cer t i f i ed Flight Registered Nurse--will "demonstrate that an individual has acquired the knowledge necessary to practice the specialty of flight nursing."
Air Medical Journal • January/February 1993 29
BCEN , which currently sponsors the CEN exam, will provide operational services for the program, but the test will be administered by American College Testing. The first test will be given July 24, 1993; appli- cations must be postmarked by May 14. Nurses inter- ested in becoming certified in flight nursing can contact BCEN at 708/698-9409.
Fixed-Wing Aircraft Crashes in Northern California A Rockwell Turbo Commander 690-B crashed near Herlong in Northern California, Dec. 31, 1992, killing the pilot and nurse on board. Pilot Gary Miller, 51, and nurse Therese Yarbrough, 28, of Medic Air, Reno, Nev., were flying to Susanville, Calif., to pick up a cardiac pa- tient for transfer to Reno.
According to Gary Brenner, program director for Medic Air, the National Transportation Safety Board has not concluded its investigation, but officials there have told him that they have determined that the cause was "immediate structural design overload of the tail sec- tion." It appears that the main spar attach points on the aircraft failed, ripping the tail off. The cause of the fail- ure has not yet been determined; possible causes in- clude a rotor-type cloud or severe turbulence. Brenner said it was extremely unlikely that the pilot hit anything
while flying since it was clear day with a high ceiling and good visibility. He also reported that rescuers ar- rived on scene within an hour, but Miller and Yar- brough did not survive the impact.
Medic Air has examined its o ther three Turbo Commanders and have found no indications of any prob- lems. The company employs five full-time nurses and five pilots; it is strictly dedicated to air medical service.
New Seminar to Help Prevent Pilot Error Advanced Aviation Training Seminars has developed a one-day seminar, "Preventing Pilot Error." The semi- nar discusses the traps of human nature that lead to ac- cidents and provides the tools necessary to recognize and either avoid or deal with those traps. The seminar uses examples specific to EMS and is appropriate for either fixed-wing or rotor-wing pilots. For more infor- mation, contact Advanced Aviation Training Seminars at 100 Laurel Lane, Euless, TX 76039; 800/728-0678.
Metro to Operate Michigan MEDFLIGHT On Dec. 1, 1992, Metro Aviation Inc., of Shreveport, La., began operating the Midwest MEDFLIGHT program for nine hospitals in southeast Michigan. Besides sup- plying an Agusta A109 MK II helicopter, Metro Aviation
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New Med Flight Program Signs with St. Louis Helicopter St. John's Regional Medical Center, of Joplin, Mo., chose St. Louis Helicopter to operate and maintain their American Eurocopter BO-105 CBS for their new Med Flight program. St. Louis Helicopter will also provide as- sistance in training dispatch personnel and instruct crews on safety procedures. Besides the Joplin area, the new service will cover southeastern Kansas, northeast- ern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas.
FSF and IFA to Combine Meetings The Flight Safety Foundation and the International Federation of Airworthiness will again combine their re- spective meetings Nov. 8-11, 10993, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The two first held combined meetings in November 1992 in Long Beach, Calif. Proceedings will be available in early 1993 for $45 for members and $65 for non-members. For more information, contact FSF at 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22201-3306; 703/522-8300.
Acadian Adds Fixed-Wing Aircraft Acadian Ambulance Service, of Lafayette, La., has added a Cessna Conquest II to its air medical fleet of three heli- copters and one Cessna 414A aircraft. The Cessna Conquest II has a range of 1,800 miles and can transport two patients with a flight crew and four medical attendants. Acadian Ambulance Service also operates a ground fleet of 130 vehicles.
Reader Response Requested The November/December 1992 issue included a de- tachable and self-mailing "Readership Survey" between pages 10 and 11. The survey is comprehensive in scope but simple to fill out. Unfortunately, we failed to indicate a return date for your input. We would appreciate your returning the surveys by March 15, 1993, with a goal of publishing the results in the May issue.
This is your publication. To make sure we are giving you what you expect, we need your help. Do you actu- ally read the magazine? What types of articles do you read? What types of articles do you want to see? It will only take a few minutes of your time to fill out the sur- v e y . . , and we pay the postage! So please get your sur- vey in the mail by March 15 to ensure that your voice will be heard. •
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