Newsletter and Updates site
Welcome to the newsletter for Pintler Billing Services' clients! Our mission is to support you in providing excellent care. Here we will share relevant information from around the state and nation, curated from a wide variety of resources.
What is Big Sky Care Connect?
Big Sky Care Connect (BSCC) - Montana’s Health Information Exchange (HIE) - is a network that allows the health records of Montanans to be securely shared with providers throughout the state. Watch the video to learn more.
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Participation in the Big Sky Care Connect network includes the ability to track patient care through their medical records as they progress through their health journey. After a patient's transport they often enter the ER, and potentially surgery, in-patient status, or other care, and BSCC can provide visibility into their condition and progress, potentially shedding light on the impact or influence of pre-hospital care done by the ambulance crew. Participation is available as either a view-only partner, or as a partner uploading and sharing data as well. There is currently a grant available to help offset the costs of the technology aspect, so if you are interested, you can contact Krista Pierce at Big Sky Care Connect, krista@mtbscc.org for more information.
Legislative Updates
We are excited to bring you the latest legislative updates that could significantly impact ambulance services in Montana. Here are the key bills currently under consideration:
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LC2288: No Surprises Act
Legislature is considering adding this at a state level with specific language for ambulances. We are following this closely and think it will have a positive impact on our industry. Learn more here.
HB128: Protection for Volunteer Responders
Sponsored by Rep. Jones, HB128 aims to protect volunteer emergency responders from termination by their employers when they respond to emergency calls. This bill has garnered strong support from the Fire Alliance and various volunteers who testified in favor of it. HB128 has successfully passed the House Business and Labor Committee and is now awaiting its third reading in the House, scheduled for February 3rd.
HB129: Income Tax Incentives for Volunteer Responders
Another important bill sponsored by Rep. Jones, HB129, proposes an income tax incentive for qualifying volunteer emergency responders. This bill has passed the House Taxation Committee and the second reading on the House floor. It has been re-referred back to the House Taxation Committee for further consideration.
HB243: Tax Credit for Volunteer First Responders
Sponsored by Rep. Gist, HB243 seeks to provide a $1,500 tax credit to volunteer first responders. This bill has been assigned to the House Taxation Committee but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing date.
We will continue to monitor these bills and provide updates as they progress through the legislative process. Your support and advocacy are crucial in ensuring that these important measures are enacted.
Thank you for your dedication to providing essential emergency medical services to our communities.
Geriatric Care
Lift assist calls and responses to falls in patients over 60 years of age have dramatically increased in the last 10 years, however the percentage of these that are transported to the hospital have significantly decreased. We can see that EMS providers have become a significant resource for our older demographic specifically those that live alone. Many of these patients are physically impaired which is leading them to have a more difficult time cleaning their dwellings or in some cases increasing the danger of usually normal things such as rugs. When responding to a lift assist or fall call, look around and see how we can help out our patients. Maybe that is removing a cord that is across a walking path, doing a bit of tidying up in a high traffic area, shoveling some snow, or moving a bit of furniture to make their life easier. The extra time it takes to do these small tasks can reduce the amount of times EMS providers are called back to the residence.
Compliance Compliance Compliance
We have created our 2025 Compliance Work Plan, and in addition to the usual billing audits that we perform quarterly, we have chosen to focus on updating our disaster recovery plan and general cybersecurity policies. Kerrie, our compliance officer, is guiding our compliance work with the input of our IT personnel and other leadership staff. Our goal is to maximize your revenue within the framework of compliance, and so this work is very important. Clear correct documentation is the easiest way to increase revenue recovery. Pintler is dedicated to your success, that is why we offer free documentation training. To schedule a training with our billing experts just give us a call or shoot us an email!
Our compliance officer Kerrie Tkachyk
We are here for you!
If you have any questions or would like to set up a consultation appointment please reach out to us.
Office: (406) 297-1627
Toll Free: (866) 340-2505
