Supplemental payment program closes the gaps in reimbursement for ambulance transports
Briarcliff Manor, NY – December 11, 2015 – When the Houston City Council selected Digitech to handle its billing for ambulance transports in 2013, it signed on with a partner that could help the city address both an information gap and a budget gap. A federal program allows governmental ambulance providers to recover a portion of the difference between the actual cost of services provided and the reimbursement allowed under Medicaid, Medicaid Managed Care, and uninsured patients. Houston had been missing out on these Ambulance Supplemental Payment Program (ASPP) funds, because it couldn’t be certain of providing the extensive documentation of these expenditures required by the state of Texas, which administers the program.
Digitech’s Ambulance Commander software, combined with their data mining experience and reporting expertise, enabled Houston to provide the detailed accounting of all the city’s ambulance trips required by the ASPP. Houston had already seen an $11 million increase in revenue captured from ambulance billing—from $29 million in 2012-13 to nearly $40 million in 2013-14. For 2013-14, the ASPP has returned almost $28 million in additional revenue to the City of Houston. Digitech projects a similar return for Houston for the 2014-15 fiscal year, which will help the city close a projected $63 million budget gap. “The City Council made a wise decision in Digitech,” states Mayor Annise Parker. “Their direction and support in recovering revenue from the Ambulance Supplemental Payment Program has brought a big payoff for Houston.”
“These results are outstanding,” adds Digitech CEO Mark Schiowitz. “We knew there was the potential for a substantial return from the ASPP, and we knew we could deliver it.” Digitech’s deep specialization in ambulance billing protocols has gained national attention for improving collections in several major municipalities. The company’s detailed reporting and conscientious approach to compliance continue to lead the way to increased revenue for ambulance service providers.
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