News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
TennCare reimbursements for ambulance transports would match Medicare reimbursements under legislation proposed by state lawmakers.
Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said county commissioners will consider a resolution next week that supports the bill.
“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.”
If approved by the Tennessee General Assembly, the county expects to receive an additional $600,000 a year.
TennCare currently reimburses about $125 a run and $1.30 per mile. Medicare pays $220 a run and $11.43 per mile.
“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.”
The Putnam County Fiscal Review Committee recommended approval of the resolution during Monday’s meeting. The full county commission meets Monday at 6 p.m.
