Region 1

Mark Harrison

Present

Region 2

Nell Thomas

Present

Region 3

Jim Inman

Present

Region 4

Mike Swift

Absent

Region 5

Barry Brown

Present

Region 6

Sherman Hockenbury

Present

Region 7

Mark Bailey

Present

Region 8

Steve Becraft

Present

Region 9

Terry Fraley

Absent

Region 10

Michael Mason

Present

Region 11

Joe Bradshaw

Present

Region 12

Terry Akin

Absent

Region 13

Duane Lee

Present

Region 14

Wendell Hatfield

Present

Region 15

Rodney McKibben

Present

Region 16

Bob Gainer

Absent

At Large

Joe Prewitt

David Webb

David Shanks

John Blumenstock

Jamie Locke

Present

Absent

Present

Present

Absent

Others Attending

A sign-in sheet is attached.

ITEM

DISCUSSION

ACTION

Call to Order

President Joe Bradshaw called the meeting to order with a quorum being present.

Minutes Approval

Mark Harrison presented copies of minutes from the January meeting.  With no questions, a motion to accept was made by S. Hockenbury and second by B. Brown.

Motion Passed

Treasurer's Report

Due to the absence of Jamey Locke, Mark Harrison presented the Treasurer's report.  Reports were handed out to the board showing a detailed list of income and expenditures.  Ending balance in the conference fund is $5,794.56.  Ending balance in the general fund is $5,451.24.  Motion to accept by J. Blumenstock and second by M. Bailey.

Motion Passed

Old Business

Display Board- Jamey Locke will report at the next meeting.

Washington D.C. Trip- Joe Bradshaw updated the board on the recent trip to D.C.  Members representing KAPA from the board were Joe Bradshaw, John Blumenstock, Mark Harrison and Sherman Hockenbury.  Meetings were scheduled with Kentucky's entire U.S. Delegation but due to the Ricin incident, the meetings with our two Senators had to be cancelled.  We were able to meet earlier this month with Senator Bunning at his Northern Kentucky office.  Presently, a meeting with Senator McConnell is being scheduled.  All meetings to date were very informative and KAPA was well received by all.

Conference Report

Steve Becraft reported on the EMS Olympics.  Three regional events are scheduled this year.  First, second, and third place regional winners will compete at the state final during the EMS Conference.  All competitors will receive continuing education credit.

Joe Bradshaw, conference chair gave a general update to the board.  He stated that choices for the guest speaker had been narrowed down to a short list and a decision will be made soon.  Also, all conference coordinators need to submit their budget as soon as possible.

It was noted that Dr. Irvin Smith would be coordinating with Dr. O'Brien to offer a class for EMS Medical Directors at the conference.

Legislative Update

James Ritchey reported that as expected, this has been a very tough general session.  The environment in Frankfort has not been conducive to try to move any kind of legislation.  The assault bill and the EMS license plate bill as well appear to be dead in committee.  James stated that work needs to begin now to develop a comprehensive reform package including the EMS license plate bill, assault bill, revision of KRS 311, etc.  He asked the President to appoint a legislative committee immediately.  James also stated that he would like to continue serve as  KAPA's legislative liaison.  Joe Bradshaw appointed the following persons to serve on the legislative committee: Sherman Hockenbury, Barry Brown, Wendell Hatfield, Mark Bailey, John Blumenstock, Joe Prewitt, and Jamey Locke.  The committee plans to have a legislative proposal ready for the board's review by the September meeting.

Medicaid Update

Sherman Hockenbury and Barry Brown reported that efforts are ongoing as they continue to try to get more money in the budget earmarked for an ambulance rate increase.   

HB 290

Barry Brown reported that the bill has passed and several changes to the state retirement system for both hazardous and non-hazardous were made.  These changes will affect employees hired on or after July 1, 2004.

Medicare Update

Sherman Hockenbury reported that he represented KAPA at the CMS town hall meeting in Baltimore, M.D. in February.  The meeting was held to discuss the use and implementation of ambulance condition codes.  He stated that essentially all who attended were in favor of the codes.  The codes would be used to determine whether a claim would be billed as ALS/BLS based on a patient's signs/symptoms. 

UMWA

UMWA provides Medicare coverage to mine workers and has recently begun paying ambulance services at levels far below the fee schedule.  UMWA says they are using Kentucky as a pilot program state.  Since the fee schedule is a federal law appears that the actions of UMWA are in violation of that law.  KAPA is working with Kentucky's U.S. legislators in an effort to resolve this serious problem as quickly as possible.

17 State Coalition

Sherman Hockenbury reported that Kentucky is one of 17 states that lie within the southern region as defined by CMS.  As the fee schedule is phased in, providers within this region would either receive an increase in reimbursement or remain equal.  CMS is working to slow down the implementation of the fee schedule for this region alone.  KAPA has been asked to join a coalition representing the southern region to aggressively fight CMS on this issue.  The cost to join the coalition is an assessment based on the amount of Medicare dollars spent in each respective state.  The cost for KAPA is estimated to be $5,000.00.  Motion by S. Hockenbury and second by B. Brown to join the coalition.

Motion Passed

Creation of Projects Fund

Joe Bradshaw advised the board that KAPA is growing and has become much more active and involved in a variety of issues over the past couple of years.  All of these things are needed and are positive for the providers but are also expensive.  The board feels that sending a small group of people to Washington, D.C. each year is worthwhile, we want to join and support the 17 state coalition, we want to continue to sponsor the annual legislative reception for the Kentucky General Assembly, and we would like to continue to bring in good high profile speakers to our banquet each year during the EMS Conference.  All of these things are both positive and progressive and benefit all of Kentucky's Ambulance Providers, yet at the same time KAPA cannot afford to do all of them at the current funding level.  It isn't fair to ask the few individuals involved for their departments to underwrite some of the expenses for these initiatives.  After all, their departments are paying them to miss work in order to do the work of KAPA.  Motion by S. Hockenbury and second by M. Harrison to create "Projects Fund" and to send a letter to all KAPA members asking for a voluntary assessment of $150 that is to be deposited into the projects fund.  It was the feelings of the board that most members will participate while at the same time not impose a requirement, which could place an undue burden on the small services that simply could not afford it.

Motion Passed

Uniform Transfer Form

Sherman Hockenbury reported that he had been meeting with a group from KHA regarding implementation of a form to be used by hospitals and nursing homes when transferring a patient.  A draft form was distributed to the board and contains all necessary information needed to complete the EMS PCR.  Sherman made a motion asking that the KAPA President send a letter of support to the KHA group.  Duane Lee seconded the motion.

Motion Passed

KAPA Region 15

Joe Bradshaw noted that region 15 had been vacant for some time.  Present at the meeting was Rodney McKibben from Washington, KY and agreed to serve on the board.  Motion by John Blumenstock and second by Nell Thomas to appoint Mr. McKibben to the board representing region 15.

Motion Passed

Next Meeting

Joe announced that the next board meeting would be at Lake Barkley State Resort in Trigg County and would be in June.  Nell Thomas will contact the resort for accommodations and report back to Joe.  All members will be notified of the exact date as soon as possible.

Regional Meetings

Joe Bradshaw expressed his desire to have a meeting in each region to talk about KAPA initiatives and to discuss the needs of the providers.  Also to ask non-members to join and help support KAPA.

Adjournment

With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm EST.  Motion by Duane Lee and second by John Blumenstock.

Motion Passed