Per Solutions Group:

Colleagues & Friends,

We invite you to the inaugural meeting of the Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing Advisory Committee (GAPBAC or GAPB) on May 2-3, 2023, from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM EST. This two-day virtual public meeting is open to anyone who registers in advance via the following link: https://priforum.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_nSWKovtFQbqGY15qaF9CFw

On Day One, the morning sessions will begin with an introduction and background, followed by an overview of the No Surprises Act and the ground ambulance industry. The afternoon sessions will explore insurance and ground ambulance payment systems, level of service and care, as well as independent studies of cost/payment, and conclude with a wrap-up of the day’s proceedings. Day Two will focus on ground ambulance billing practices, disclosure of charges to consumers, the impact of balance billing on consumers, current consumer protections, and committee feedback. During the meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to take breaks, offer public comments, and participate in committee deliberations.

You may be wondering, who is the Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing Advisory Committee and why do they matter? Solutions Group Managing Partner, Asbel Montes, serves as Committee Chairperson, and the committee is further composed of a diverse group of individuals representing various sectors of the healthcare industry, state and local governments, and consumer and patient advocacy groups.

The No Surprises Act mandated the establishment of the GAPBAC to improve the disclosure of charges and fees for ground ambulance services, and to educate consumers about their insurance options. The committee is tasked with providing recommendations on disclosure of charges and fees, consumer protection, and prevention of balance billing to consumers, with a report due within 180 days of its first meeting.