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Lt. Gov. meets today with HCFA on behalf of KAPA By
MICHAEL SWIFT FRANKFORT — Kentucky's Lieutenant Governor, Stephen L. Henry, MD, left yesterday for Washington, D.C. to go to the aid of Kentucky's ambulance providers. [See related article.] While in Washington, on behalf of the Kentucky Ambulance Providers Association, Henry will meet with HCFA's Deputy Director of Medicare Contractor Management, Dr. Marjorie Kanof, in an effort to hasten a resolution of the ongoing reimbursement crisis between Kentucky's ambulance providers and AdminaStar-Federal, Inc. In addition, he will discuss with Dr. Kanof the possibility of obtaining financial relief in the form of reimbursement advances from HCFA for some of Kentucky's most financially strapped ambulance providers. Since August, Kentucky's ambulance providers have been besieged with a number of problems in dealing with Medicare claims submitted to AdminaStar-Federal. Among the problems experienced have been massive increases in claim denials that, according to figures released by the American Ambulance Association, have reached 48%, delayed reimbursements for services billed, inconsistencies in claims processing, and at least a seven month back-log in the processing of claim appeals. The resulting shortfall in reimbursements from AdminaStar has created a serious financial situation for not only public and private ambulance services, but also for local governments that subsidize their ambulance providers. Across the state some ambulance providers and local governments are being forced to consider laying-off staff, reducing services and even closing their doors due to a lack of funds. It is feared that the Medicare reimbursement problems could result in a major public safety crisis for the entire state.
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