Missouri Ambulance Association, MAA, is made up of a diversified group of ambulance providers including service directors from districts, private owners, hospital based, contracted services, air ambulance, Board Members and fire districts. MAA also offers commercial memberships of various and important vendors including insurance companies, medical supplies, billing services and ambulance manufacturers - to name just a few. Over it's more than 20 year history MAA has grown to more than 100 members. More importantly; we continue to grow and prosper.
The Missouri Ambulance Association is Committed to Ensure that Missouri Ambulance Services Have a VOICE.
We currently have lobbyists working for our association and several members who are very active in the legislative process. Some of the accomplishments made for EMS in Missouri include:
- A one MILLION dollar increase in Medicaid reimbursements
- Ambulance District Board Member Training
- Out of Hospital DNR Statute
- Liability protection for Health Care Professionals who respond to assist in disasters
Efforts continuing in 2008 are additional funds from Medicaid with our goal to achieve Medicare funding levels, peer review protection, and a line of duty death benefit of $150,000 for Paramedics, EMT's, and Flight Nurses killed in the line of duty. We will also be involved in the development and implementation of Time Critical Diagnosis and STEMI patients.
The ambulance industry is frequently forgotten when it comes to grants and misunderstood in government. The only way to ensure our important industry prospers is to join together so we can be heard in Jefferson City and throughout the State.
Our meetings are held three times a year in January, July and October. We also co-sponsor the ICE/SpringBreak Conference in April. Our programs include topics of interest for EMS, management, including workers compensation, sexual harassment, emergency vehicle driving and safety, HIPAA, billing and collection issues, with representatives from Medicare, Medicaid, HCFA and an occasional visit from, David Werfel Medicare consultant for the American Ambulance Association. The Missouri Unit of EMS has been very active with our association providing us with updates and insights at almost every meeting.
Membership in MAA and attendance at our meetings are very effective in growing your service and ensuring you're up-to-date on the latest driving issues in EMS, and that your service is in compliance with the ever-changing EMS system.
For more information call Board Chairperson Vicki Groce: 1-816-324-3341, or Board Member Barb Shupe: 1-660-783-2430. Or, just drop an e-mail to one the Board Members listed on the MAA BOD title bar.