Rural Metro Fire in Yuma County, Arizona Implements Innovative ET3 Pilot
2.21.2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) program aims to improve quality, lower costs and reduce avoidable emergency department transports.
Rural Metro Fire in Yuma County has been selected as a participant to implement the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) program.
ET3 is an innovative, five-year program aimed at providing greater flexibility for ambulance care teams to address emergency healthcare needs of Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries following a 911 call. Rural Metro Fire paramedics and EMTs will assess patients on-site and determine if the patient should be treated in place or transported to an emergency room. With the added support of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and Medicare Advantage plans, Rural Metro Fire can now offer these expanded options to a wider range of patients.
Melissa Hilpert, Fire Chief for Rural Metro’s Yuma operations said the ET3 program is an innovative way to provide the most appropriate care for patient needs. “Rural Metro Fire is proud to be a part of this program, improving and personalizing healthcare for thousands.” Yuma is planning to go live with the treatment in place portion of the program at the end of this month.
Ted Van Horne, GMR Chief Operating Officer, said the company shares CMS’s vision of improving quality, increasing access and lowering costs for patients and payors. “We’re very proud CMS has chosen to work with us on such a large-scale program that dovetails with our own commitment to finding innovative solutions to the problems facing patients and healthcare providers alike.”
ET3 is an innovative, five-year program aimed at providing greater flexibility for ambulance care teams to address emergency healthcare needs of Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries following a 911 call. Rural Metro Fire paramedics and EMTs will assess patients on-site and determine if the patient should be treated in place or transported to an emergency room. With the added support of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and Medicare Advantage plans, Rural Metro Fire can now offer these expanded options to a wider range of patients.
Melissa Hilpert, Fire Chief for Rural Metro’s Yuma operations said the ET3 program is an innovative way to provide the most appropriate care for patient needs. “Rural Metro Fire is proud to be a part of this program, improving and personalizing healthcare for thousands.” Yuma is planning to go live with the treatment in place portion of the program at the end of this month.
Ted Van Horne, GMR Chief Operating Officer, said the company shares CMS’s vision of improving quality, increasing access and lowering costs for patients and payors. “We’re very proud CMS has chosen to work with us on such a large-scale program that dovetails with our own commitment to finding innovative solutions to the problems facing patients and healthcare providers alike.”
