Bridge Michigan quotes Samantha Iovan on paramedics and insurance coverage.
March 25, 2022 | Bridge Magazine, In The Media
Bridge Michigan quoted Samantha Iovan, health policy senior project manager at CHRT, in their recent article, “Home-visit programs save money, free ERs. Many insurers don’t cover them.”
Paramedics do much more than taking patients to the ER. However, most medical insurances only cover trips to the ER. According to Iovan, that payment model fails to recognize 911 calls that can be safely treated in a patient’s home. While this makes up a small portion of 911 calls, that portion is still significant. Spending time in a patient’s home also allows community paramedics to identify other forms of social assistance that would help patients with health issues, and ultimately prevent more trips to the ER.
“If the community paramedic is going into a house for someone unable to manage a chronic condition, maybe that’s because they don’t have transportation. If they are food insecure, they can connect them to a food pantry. The paramedic can serve as this connection to community organizations that can help.”—Samantha Iovan, Health policy senior project manager, CHRT