Author: TASA Admin

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Donate to affected East TN First Responders

The American Ambulance Association and TASA has coordinated with the East TN Foundation to provide an opportunity to donate directly to first responders and first responder organizations in East TN that have been affected by Hurricane Helene.

  • Go to the East Tennessee Foundation Neighbor-to-Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund
  • Click the “Give Now”button
  • On the “Donate to a Fund” page, use the search bar to identify your preferred “Neighbor to Neighbor” county charity (i.e. Cocke County Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund)
  • In the “Donate” form:
    • enter the donation amount
    • select the “Donation in Memory or Honor” option and “In Honor Of” option
    • In the “Person being remembered/honored”, enter the affected first responder or organization’s name. Note: Only the first responder agency can apply for funding. If an individual first responder is in need of funding, the first responder agency can apply and the  local Neighbor to Neighbor non-profit can award the funding on behalf of the individual first responder if needed.
    • In the “Whom to Notify”, enter the email or mailing address of the first responder or organization
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Conservation of Intravenous Fluids

October 4, 2024

Due to flooding from Hurricane Helene, Baxter International, which supplies about 60% of IV fluids in the US, experienced significant disruption to its facility in Marion, North Carolina. While re-opening the facility is a priority, there is no known timeline for this to occur. The impact on the availability of IV Fluid appears substantial and may result in challenges for resupply.

For now, product is available on the market, but allocations have been put in place to prevent hoarding and inappropriate distribution. Please work with and through your normal processes to obtain fluids.

Clinically, follow your protocols and only utilize IV fluids when the patient’s condition indicates a need for a fluid bolus. Otherwise, use capped IVs (Fluid Locks) for medication administration and flushes.

If you have any questions, please address them to the State of Tennessee Office of EMS.

Joe Holley, MD FACEP FAEMS
Medical Director
State of Tennessee Office of EMS

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FREE!!! Pre-Conference: “Exploring New Reimbursement Opportunities”

FREE!!!

Pre-Conference: “Exploring New Reimbursement Opportunities”

Lecture and group discussion to review opportunities and possible legislative efforts for new reimbursement opportunities: Topics include:

  • Reimbursement from Commercial Payors
  • Improving TennCare Supplemental Payments

This pre-conference will be held at the Park Vista Resort in Gatlinburg TN August 28, 2024 from 8:30 am-11:00 am

Date: August 28, 2024 (8:30 am-11:00 am)

Register here

Pre-Conference flyer/agenda

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2024 TASA Reimbursement & Compliance Conference

2024 TASA Reimbursement & Compliance Conference
August 28-29, 2024
Park Vista Hotel, Gatlinburg TN

Early Registration Price Good Through July 26, 2024

The 2024 TASA Reimbursement & Compliance Conference will be held at the Park Vista Hotel, Gatlinburg TN.  This conference is designed to offer

 attendees educational and networking opportunities to build/improve their EMS reimbursement and compliance within EMS.  Education and training will
 by provided by PWW (Page Wolfberg & Wirth LLC).

Dates: August 28 – August 29, 2024 (Wednesday noon until Thursday at 5pm)

CEU’s:

  • 4.0 CEU Units (CAC mandatory) are available for this conference
  • 8.0 CEU Units (CAC elective) are available for this conference
  • 12.0 CEU Units (CACO) are available for this conference
  • 12.0 CEU Units (CAPO) are available for this conference

Agenda: View/Download Agenda

Venue: Park Vista Resort in Gatlinburg, TN, is a newly renovated Doubletree brand hotel featuring 300 accommodating guestrooms and suites. At the Park Vista, it is our nature to provide spacious guestrooms, each with a private balcony and stunning views of the Great Smoky Mountains. You will fall in love with the sunrise, city lights and the mysterious “Blue Smoke” indigenous to our mountains.

Hotel Reservations: 865-436-9211 or 1-800-421-PARK or www.parkvista.com

Room Rate: $117.00

Online Booking Code: TAS

The discounted rate expires on 7-26-2024 or until there are no rooms available.

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State EMS Board June 2024 Meetings


State EMS Board Meetings

June 26-27, 2024  /  September 18-19, 2024  /  December 11-12, 2024

June 2024 Board Meetings

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PWW Breaking News Alert – OCR Final Rule on PHI disclosure to law enforcement

OCR Final Rule Has a Significant Change Related to Law Enforcement Administrative Requests
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently issued a Final Rule significantly tightening the conditions under which HIPAA-covered entities can disclose protected health information (PHI) to law enforcement pursuant to an “administrative request.” The new regulation, which becomes effective on June 25, 2024, clarifies that disclosures of PHI in response to administrative requests are only permissible when a response to the request is required by law.

Current Regulation and Interpretation

Currently, under 45 CFR §164.512(f)(1)(ii)(C), covered entities may disclose PHI in response to an administrative request or similar process, provided the request:

  1. Is relevant and material to a legitimate law enforcement inquiry;
  2. Is specific and limited in scope to the extent reasonably practicable; and
  3. States that de-identified information could not reasonably be used.
This regulation was widely interpreted to mean that a request on law enforcement letterhead containing these three affirmations sufficed to permit PHI disclosure to law enforcement under this exception.

The Change – Effective June 25, 2024

OCR in the Final Rule emphasizes that previous interpretations were incorrect. Starting June 25, 2024, disclosures of PHI to law enforcement pursuant to administrative requests will be allowed only when the response is “required by law.” Requests on law enforcement letterhead, even if they include the three affirmations, will no longer meet the regulatory exception unless accompanied by a legally binding document, such as a court-issued subpoena, summons, warrant, or similar process for which a response is required by law. While effective June 25, 2024, OCR said that covered entities must comply with the new regulation by December 23, 2024.  So, OCR will not impose penalties for violations of the new regulation until then.

Implications for Law Enforcement

Beginning, June 25, 2024, law enforcement agencies must provide court-ordered documents or other legally binding processes to compel PHI disclosure under the “administrative request” exception. Without such documentation, a covered entity cannot release PHI to law enforcement under this exception.

Other HIPAA Exceptions Remain Unchanged

This update addresses explicitly administrative requests and does not affect other law enforcement-related exceptions under HIPAA, including releasing necessary PHI for:

  1. Identifying or locating suspects, fugitives, material witnesses, or missing persons.
  2. Disclosing PHI when the patient is a crime victim under certain conditions.
  3. Disclosures related to criminal conduct on the covered entity’s premises.
  4. Reporting a suspicious death to law enforcement.
  5. Reporting a crime in an emergency.
Updated Regulation Text

Here is how the regulation, 45 CFR §164.512(f)(1)(ii)(C), will read as of June 25, 2024, with the new language in red:

An administrative request for which response is required by law, including an administrative subpoena or summons, a civil or an authorized investigative demand, or similar process authorized under law, provided that:

  1. The information sought is relevant and material to a legitimate law enforcement inquiry;
  2. The request is specific and limited in scope to the extent reasonably practicable in light of the purpose for which the information is sought; and
  3. De-identified information could not reasonably be used.

This crucial clarification by the OCR aims to ensure PHI disclosures are appropriately regulated and only made when legally necessary, reinforcing the protection of patient privacy while maintaining compliance with law enforcement needs.

For further details, refer to page 33043 of the OCR’s Final Rule document.

Please reach out to the PWW attorneys and PWW|AG consultants HERE with any questions regarding this Final Rule.
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Serve Strong – Upper Cumberland Region

Upper Cumberland Region providers….

Please take a few minutes to complete the First Responder Survey using the link below. This organization is looking for input from first responders in order to help them identify the best way they can support your first responder community.

About:

“Serve Strong” The Corban Scott Goad Memorial Foundation is committed to supporting community first responders. It is our hope to FILL IN THE GAPS by providing equipment, training, respite, supplies or comfort items as needed for First Responders so they may better serve their communities. The foundation also supports those who provide sideline medical attention to athletes in schools. Initial, Stage 1, efforts will begin with Cumberland, Fentress and Putnam counties in rural TN, branching out to the greater Upper Cumberland region as the foundation grows in support and opportunity.

SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GYRTLJ6

Chester Goad, Ed.D.
President, Serve Strong: The Corban Scott Goad Memorial Foundation
501(c) (3) Non-Profit Charitable Organization
www.servestrong.us

About Corban:
https://www.servestrong.us/portfolio

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National EMS Memorial Service | Messages to Families

The National EMS Memorial Service is collecting short messages from EMS providers and the community for the surviving family members of EMS personnel who died in the line of duty.

National EMS Memorial Service

The all-volunteer National EMS Memorial Service honors EMS professionals who have died in the line of duty. Write your message of sympathy for the families of the 2024 honorees below, and they will be shared with them at the NEMSMS Weekend of Honor. Even just a sentence or two means the world to those left behind. View a list of the 2024 honorees.

 

National EMS Memorial Service | Messages to Families

The American Ambulance Association is collecting messages on behalf of the National EMS Memorial Service for the families of EMS professionals who passed away in the line of duty. Please use this form to share your message with the loved ones left behind. View a list of the 2024 honorees at https://ems.zone/24nemsmshonorees
Share your message here