News

Congratulations to MAA member Trinity EMS and partner FirstWatch for their selection as the 2016 American Ambulance Association AMBY winner for Best Use of Technology. Trinity and FirstWatch joined forces to fight the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts.

• Read their winning entry on the AAA site.
• Learn more about the project in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS).
• See more in the Lowell Sun.

Brian K Andrews, President of Western Massachusetts EMS, asked that we share the following with you.

Linda J. Moriarty Celebration of Life

Please Join Us

Thursday December 1, 2016 from 6 PM – 9 PM at Union Station Ballroom, Northampton, MA

• 6:00 PM-7:00 PM   Social Hour.  Cash Bar and a variety of butler-style hors d’oeuvres. Music by one of Linda’s favorite local entertainers, Noah Lis
  
• 7:00 PM  Event begins, Invited Speakers        Your Host: R.F. Conway, MD
  
• 830 PM     Raise a Toast to LJM 

TICKETS REQUIRED:

Thanks to the generous support of the WMEMS Regional Board, the first 150 PAID tickets are only $20

After #150, tickets reserved or purchased by Monday November 21 at 5 pm are $25. You may reserve a ticket at the $25 price and pay at the door. (Reserved tickets will be billed regardless of actual attendance.)  Beginning November 22 or At-The-Door, tickets are $30.

Funds exceeding event expenses will be donated to  “Rays of Hope “and the” Dakin Humane Society” in Linda’s Name.  There will also be optional donation opportunities on-site.

Make checks payable to WMEMS    For more information or to reserve/purchase tickets please contact:

• Nancy Morrissey, Nancy_Morrissey@AMR-EMS.com ( cash, check)
  
• Deb Clapp, debclapp@comcast.net,   413-695-5278  (cash, check, paypal )
  
• Lisa Herringshaw, lherringshaw@wmems.org   586-6065 (cash, check, paypal )
  
• Lisa Rhoades, Lrhoades@aeiouhc.com     or (413) 427-8466 (cash or check)
  
• Sandra Mizula, mizulas@gcc.mass.edu  or (413)522-7431 (cash, check)
  
• Dawn Josefski  josefski@gcc.mass.edu or (413) 575-3558 (cash, check)
  

 

Brian K. Andrews, EMTP
President
Western Massachusetts Emergency Medical Services
(413)499-2527
(413)281-7209 cell
www.wmems.org

The board of the Massachusetts Ambulance Association is proud to serve the needs of some of the finest EMS providers in the state. 

Over the past year, the MAA board has delivered to members legislative and regulatory advocacy excellence, a redesigned website, a new social media presence, and an enhanced benefit package featuring member savings and more. Now, more than ever, the MAA needs your continued support.

As befits the MAA's history of frugality, the board has not raised dues in several years. In 2017, to keep pace with the costs of our ongoing advocacy, legal, and operations needs, a slight increase is reflected below. 

• Active (voting) members: $275 fee, plus $110 per ambulance ($3500 cap)
• Associate (municipal/gov) members: $550
• Affiliate (vendor) members: $1100

Please contact maa@the-aaa.org should you have any questions or concerns about the dues change.

Thank you again for your continued support, and we look forward to serving your ambulance service for many years to come.

It was wonderful to see the founder of MAA member Armstrong Ambulance Service *Official Page*, William F. Armstrong, recognized for his generosity in the naming of the Armstrong Ambulance Entrance at the new Lahey Hospital & Medical Center ER. (Hat tip to Cataldo Ambulance Service's Ron Quaranto!)

See photos of the ER opening reception on the MAA Facebook page.

The Massachusetts Ambulance Association now has its very own Facebook page. "Like" MAA from your organizational and personal accounts to keep up-to-date with your fellow members.

MAA Facebook Page

Thanks to the many Massachusetts Ambulance Association members who joined the board for the September 20 Membership Meeting in Bedford, MA. Below are  a few photos of members and leaders in action! 

(MAA members, review the meeting agenda, minutes, and roster on the Meeting Archive page.)

From MAA Secretary Tyler to All Members:

Good morning everyone. Please note that MassHealth has sent an updated to its Transportation Bulletin 16 which makes firm the exclusive requirement for services to use the MassHealth MNF. To be abundantly clear, not other forms will be accepted.

What does this mean? It means that as of 09/07/2016 (the date of the release of the updated transmittal), MassHealth will only accept its form. This transmittal closes a loop-hole for the use of other medical necessity forms by stating, “Neither previous MassHealth forms nor forms created by transportation providers will be considered valid authorization for such transportation.”

Additionally , please note the annual requirement for the completion of CORI checks for your employees. “130 CMR 407.405, all transportation providers must ensure that before having any contact with a MassHealth member, drivers and attendants undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check. Documentation of the CORI check must remain on file at the transportation provider’s place of business and a new check for each driver and attendant must be conducted annually thereafter” [emphasis added].

Please contact the MAA with any questions or MassHealth Customer Service Center at 1-800-841-2900, e-mail your inquiry to providersupport@mahealth.net, or fax your inquiry to 617-988-8974.

Regards,
PST

From: Publications Unit [mailto:ehs-publications@state.ma.us] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2016 2:15 PM
To: Sean Tyler
Subject: MassHealth Provider Publications

Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2016 2:15 PM

To: Sean Tyler

Subject: MassHealth Provider Publications

You are on our list to receive notice when new MassHealth bulletins and transmittal letters are posted on the web. MassHealth has issued the following publications.

Provider Bulletins

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/laws-regs/masshealth/provider-library/provider-bulletins/2016-bulletins.html

To view and download other MassHealth publications, go to www.mass.gov/masshealth and click on Provider Library.                                                                                                                     

To remove your e-mail address from this subscription list, send a blank e-mail to leave-masshealth-provider-pubs@listserv.state.ma.us. No text in the body or subject line is needed.  This subscription service is separate from automatic provider mailings.  MassHealth providers should choose the way that they prefer to receive bulletins and transmittal letters. To choose, go to www.mass.gov/eohhs/provider/insurance/masshealth and click on Online Services or call MassHealth Customer Service at 1-800-841-2900.

Nonproviders who request that their e-mail address be removed from this subscription list will no longer receive e-mail alerts announcing when new bulletins and transmittal letters have been posted to the MassHealth web site.

The Massachusetts Ambulance Association was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Linda Moriarty. Our thoughts are with her family.

From Hafey Funeral Service:

Linda Jean Moriarty, 67, of Springfield, passed away Monday September 12, 2016 at Vibra Hospital in Springfield. Born in Springfield to the late Thomas and Jean (Purcell) Moriarty, Linda spent her youth in New Jersey, graduating from Morris Catholic High School in 1967. She then went on to receive her Bachelor’s degree from Boston University and in 1974 she started a long and dedicated career in Emergency Medical Services. 

Linda was a pioneer of her time, becoming one of the very first female EMT’s in the State of Massachusetts. She began as Manager for Para-Medic Ambulance services for many years and then went on to be Executive Director of Western Mass Emergency Services Regional Council where she stayed working even through her illness. Linda was always found putting others before herself. She was also adjunct professor at Springfield College for 25 years in Emergency Medical Management and at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, she coordinated an advanced cardiac life support course which she ran for the past ten years. Linda not only paved the way for women in her industry but her devotion and dedication to her service and career is what has made many Ambulance Leaders who they are today. 

Linda also served on several councils, including State Homeland Security and EMS State Education Council and was twice President of the Executive Women’s Golf Association. 

From 1976-2015, Linda also worked in Information Services at the Big E in West Springfield. She also enjoyed golfing, rock climbing and camping and was very proud of her Irish Heritage. 

Linda is survived by her best friend and partner of 43 years who also paved the way with Linda throughout their careers, Judith “Jude” Moore of Springfield; her siblings, Christine Moriarty of New Jersey, Karen “K.T.” Moriarty of Georgia, Brian Moriarty and his wife Diane of New Jersey and Sheila Tyree and her husband Russell of Georgia; her Aunt, Sylvia Moriarty and her son Paul of Springfield; many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews whom she adored; many cousins including, Mary (Caffrey) Robitaille and her fiancé, John Bobrowski, Debbie Murphy, Skip and Lu Caffrey, Lea Caffrey, Dan Caffrey, Steven Caffrey and Scott Caffrey as well as an abundance of dear friends and co-workers from over the years. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Michael Moriarty in 2013. 

Family and friends are invited to meet for visitation on Sunday September 18th from 12noon – 5:00 PM and again on Monday September 19th from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at Hafey Springfield Chapels, 494 Belmont Avenue. 

All may meet for Linda’s Liturgy of Christian Burial on Tuesday September 20th at 10:00 AM at Holy Name Church, 323 Dickinson St., Springfield followed by burial in St. Michael’s Cemetery in Springfield. Memorial donations may be made in Linda’s memory to Rays of Hope, 280 Chestnut St. 6th Floor, Springfield, MA 01199 or to the Springfield Rescue Mission, 10 Mill St., Springfield, MA 01108

You may have read that many ambulance services are facing a 400% price increase in the price of  EpiPen epinephrine injections. MAA members are beating the surge through MAA and the American Ambulance Association's partnership with the Savvik Buying Group (formerly the North Central EMS Cooperative). Members, save big on Epi-Pen and Epi-Pen Jr today

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From the August 18 Mass Senior Care E-News Update

MassHealth Medical Necessity Form for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation: Clarification on Signee of MNF

As previously reported, MassHealth has issued Transportation Bulletin 16/June 2016 announcing that effective July 1, 2016, a revised Medical Necessity Form (MNF) will be used to authorize non-emergency medical transportation for MassHealth members. This new MNF is required to authorize all non-emergency medical transportation covered by MassHealth on a fee-for-service basis. MassHealth covers only three types of non-emergency medical transportation covered by MassHealth on a fee-for-service basis: (1) wheelchair van transportation provided to MassHealth members who reside in institutional settings; (2) wheelchair van transportation provided to MassHealth members who reside in the community and need mobility assistance from transportation provider personnel to exit their residences or to move from their residences to the vehicle; and (3) non-emergency ambulance transportation provided to any MassHealth member, regardless of where the member resides. Neither previous MassHea lth forms nor forms created by transportation providers will be considered valid authorization for such transportation.

Please also note MassHealth has clarified that in regard to an authorized signee of the MNF in nursing facilities, only an RN under the “physician designee” is an acceptable signatory. LPNs in nursing facilities are not an acceptable signatory on a medical necessity form.