The Buckeye Fire-Medical-Rescue Department recently became Arizona’s fourth emergency medical services (EMS) agency to successfully obtain ADHS Treat & Refer (T&R) EMS Agency recognition. Arizona’s T&R Recognition Program recognizes EMS agencies that have demonstrated optimal patient safety and quality of care by matching appropriate treatment, transport, and care destination options to the needs of the patient.
The T&R Recognition Program plays an important role in ensuring health and wellness for all Arizonans by improving access to needed services. For example, not all 911 calls necessarily require ambulance transport to a hospital emergency department. T&R recognized agencies are able to provide care in the patient’s home and/or facilitate connections to other medical and social services, which helps to optimize resources for the entire community.
EMS agencies with the T&R Recognition may be eligible for reimbursement as a provider for T&R services from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). I encourage EMS agencies to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in this monitored, community specific, and clinically grounded effort to enhance the healthcare continuum for Arizonans.
For EMS agencies who are interested in learning more about the T&R Recognition Program, our Bureau of EMS and Trauma System offers a wide variety of technical assistance services, including pre-application technical reviews, site visits, T&R roadshows, and other resources.
