Health Care: States Assume Leadership Role in Providing Emergency Medical Services
HRD-86-132
Published: Sep 30, 1986. Publicly Released: Oct 30, 1986.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the status of emergency medical services programs in the United States, specifically: (1) the effect of the transition from federal to state leadership under the Preventive Health and Health Services block grant on local emergency medical services; and (2) the significant issues and barriers affecting the appropriate and timely delivery of local emergency medical services.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), as part of its continuing assessment of DRG, to determine whether they have an adverse financial impact on trauma centers. The results of this analysis should be considered along with other factors in assessing the need for a change in the trauma-related DRG payment rates. The Secretary should also direct HCFA to determine whether Medicaid reimbursement rates set by the states have an adverse financial effect on trauma centers as part of its review of each state's reimbursement criteria and methods. |
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is continuing to address trauma center issues in the context of broader specialty center issues. In this regard, HHS has instituted several processes for analysis of potential improvement in DRG classification. Also, it may include trauma centers in future research, and deal with trauma DRG in reports to Congress on DRG refinement and outlines.
|
Full Report
Public Inquiries
Topics
Block grantsEmergency medical servicesstate relationsFunds managementGrant monitoringGrants to statesHealth care costsMedical services ratesState-administered programsMedicare