This article was updated on October 13.
Ground and air ambulances are a lifeline for millions of veterans across the U.S., ensuring they receive the health care they deserve in a timely manner. For the 254,851 veterans in Nevada, access to health care is already challenging, especially for those veterans living in rural Nevada.
Over the years, the emergency medical services industry has delivered care to thousands of veterans, especially to those living in rural areas like ours. The industry’s specialized teams provide more than medical transport; they can be the difference between life or death for a veteran.
As a practicing physician in rural Nevada, I can tell you that health care is challenging in rural areas all around the U.S. Since 2010, 138 rural hospitals have closed across America: 19 hospitals closed in 2020 alone. Nevada has lost two rural hospitals in recent years, representing a reduction in available medical services for thousands of Nevadans.
This is why I’m concerned about a rule change by the Department of Veterans Affairs to cut reimbursement rates for ambulance services at or below Medicare rate. This rule will especially hurt veterans living in rural areas like Fallon where they don’t have easy access to a VA facility.
This move will close critical links in the health care chain, which enable those in remote areas to access traditional and emergency care in a timely fashion. If implemented, this rule will substantially reduce rural ambulance capacity, harming veterans by limiting access to lifesaving medical care.
The new rule will also deny payment if a veteran is transported to a non-VA facility. This will impact Fallon veterans who may need to get to Banner Hospital quickly, versus the longer drive to the Reno VA.
Considering that more than a quarter of all U.S. veterans (4.4 million) live in rural areas around the U.S., this rule would significantly reduce the ability of the elderly and disabled to access health care. Reflecting on what all these veterans have done for our country, this is not the treatment they deserve.
I urge Nevada’s Senators and Representatives to support Senate Bill 2757, the VA Emergency Transportation Access Act. This bill will ensure proper review of the actual costs of transport and that new rates are confirmed to reflect the actual costs of transportation. That is a fair and reasonable action to take. It also creates a forum for air and ground medical service providers to engage with the VA on future reimbursement rate modifications. This will protect veteran’s access to emergency transport in the future!
Dr. Robin Titus is a practicing family physician, Chief of Staff at South Lyon Medical Center, and a state Senator representing District 17.
Comment
Comments