News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Putnam County Commission has approved a resolution supporting a proposed bill that would make TennCare reimbursements for ambulance transports match the Medicare reimbursement rate.
If approved by state lawmakers, Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said the county expects to receive an additional $600,000 a year.
“The rates should have been raised years ago, and we just hope that they’ll look at it,” Porter said. “Medicare is based on CPI and all kinds of things that come out of the federal government. When you look at the economy and how it’s doing, we think they oughta being doing the same thing as Medicare.”
TennCare currently reimburses about $125 a run or $1.30 per mile. Medicare pays $220 a run or $11.31 per mile.
Porter said the Tennessee General Assembly will take up the legislation in 2020.
“It’s going to be coming up to the state legislature this year, so they’re asking for all the commissions to pass this resolution in support of TennCare raising their rates up to the Medicare fee schedule,” Porter said. “As it stands right now, what TennCare reimburses us doesn’t even pay our cost for the transports.”
The Putnam County Commission approved the resolution during Monday night’s meeting. The White and Cumberland County Commissions have also approved the measure.
