The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an informational bulletin outlining how state Medicaid agencies can support the implementation of the Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) Model.
Applications now are open for the voluntary, five-year payment model, which aims to reduce unnecessary transport to emergency departments. Run through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), the ET3 model seeks to improve care for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries and lower Medicare program costs.
To facilitate multi-payer alignment for ambulance services, CMMI will launch an interactive ET3 Model Learning System with targeted learning opportunities for state Medicaid programs. The learning system will give states a forum to discuss payment development, troubleshoot barriers to implementation, and enable Medicaid incorporation into the multi-payer strategies model applicants submit.
The informational bulletin also provides a framework that state Medicaid agencies can use to assess whether their regulatory and Medicaid payment structure can support ET3 model interventions. Further, the bulletin outlines existing flexibility in federal regulations and guidelines that state agencies can leverage to launch the ET3-aligned interventions. CMS plans to evaluate ET3 model strategies that are incorporated into the Medicaid program with available data sources, including state-provided data.
Once ET3 model participants are selected, the agency will share details about how to join the learning system. States not selected for the model still may participate in the ET3 Model Learning System activities.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.