Maine Ambulance Association

Common Ground Position Statement

The Membership of the Maine Ambulance Association subscribes to the following principles...

1. Ensure continuous access to 911 in managed care contracts.

2. Ensure that the "Safety Net" function provided by EMS is continued under managed care.

3. Ensure continued reimbursement for emergency medical services under managed care.

4. Change existing reimbursement formulas to include treatment without transport and transport by other than ambulance.

5. Support the development of public/private investments in new communications technology.

6. Support development of public/private partnerships among EMS providers.

7. Support participation of all providers in EMS/Fire service, volunteers, EMS organizations, and public safety organizations.

8. Encourage the development of EMS as a public health resource.

9. Increase the ability of our provider's access to high quality training and education, support increased scope of practice, support integration with other health care providers.

10. Support stable funding sources for systems development through Maine EMS.

11. Support the development of a voluntary system of accreditation of EMS providers — "Gold Standard" vs. minimum/licensing standards.

12. Promote collegiality with other EMS health care providers – MD's, RN's, PA's, and home health.

13. Promote the availability of disaster, MCI planning resources under managed care.