News

Please be advised that Ford has issued a recall of late-model Transits. 

From the Ford website:

• Ford is issuing a safety recall for approximately 400,000 2015-17 Ford Transit van/bus vehicles with medium, long and extended wheelbases and chassis cab/cutaways with medium wheelbases to replace the driveshaft flexible coupling.
• In the affected vehicles, continuing to operate a vehicle with a cracked flexible coupling may cause separation of the driveshaft, resulting in a loss of motive power while driving or unintended vehicle movement in park without the parking brake applied. In addition, separation of the driveshaft from the transmission can result in secondary damage to surrounding components, including brake and fuel lines. A driveshaft separation may increase the risk of injury or crash.
• Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this issue.

• Affected vehicles include 2015-17 Ford Transit vehicles built at Kansas City Assembly Plant, Jan. 17, 2014 to June 15, 2017.

• The recall involves approximately 402,462 vehicles in North America (370,630 in the U.S., 2,361 in federalized territories, 3,217 in Mexico and 26,254 in Canada). The Ford reference number for this recall is 17S15.
• Based on the field data, Ford does not expect the current flexible couplings to deteriorate sufficiently to result in driveline separation in vehicles with less than 30,000 miles. Hence, for affected vehicles with under 30,000 miles or vehicles that have had a driveshaft or driveshaft flexible coupling replaced within the last 30,000 miles, no alteration or interim repair is required until the vehicle or replaced flexible coupling reaches 30,000 miles. At that point, the customer should schedule an appointment with their dealer for the interim repair to be performed.
•  For affected vehicles with more than 30,000 miles, the interim repair will consist of replacing the driveshaft flexible coupling every 30,000 miles until the final repair is available and completed. Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the flexible coupling replaced immediately at no cost. When the permanent repair is available, owners will be notified that they may schedule an appointment with their dealer to have either a redesigned flexible coupling with a modified driveshaft bracket and shield or a revised driveshaft equipped with a universal joint installed at no cost.

Last week, staff from FAA member organizations Nature Coast EMS, AMR, and Sunstar Paramedics were honored as AAA Stars of Life in Washington, DC. 

Congratulations to Hugo Badillo of AMR (http://bit.ly/17BadilloH), Graham Losse of Nature Coast EMS (http://bit.ly/17LosseG), Kasey Ras of Sunstar Paramedics (http://bit.ly/17RasKasey), and Jonathan Balzer of Sunstar Paramedics (http://bit.ly/17Balzer)!

Here there are with Senator Bill Nelson. Way to go!

The Florida Ambulance Association was deeply saddened to learn that Lahiri Garcia (51) and Paul Besaw (35) were killed this morning in the line of duty. Both were longstanding and respected team members at AMR Palm Beach/Broward County.

In an interview with WPTV, AMR Regional Director Bill Hall said, “The AMR family has lost two amazing people. They were dedicated husbands, fathers, friends and teammates. Our thoughts are with both families during this difficult time. Lahiri and Paul will be greatly missed.”

AMR said, "Garcia and Besaw were committed to caring for others, and together they had nearly 40 years of service for AMR and the community. Funeral arrangements have not been finalized."

On behalf of the entire FAA membership, the Board extends its deepest condolences to the Garcia and Besaw families.

FAA members have free access to the Savvik Buying Group, the largest EMS group purchasing organization. 

Special for EMS Week, win up to $1,000 worth of medical supplies! Enter here.

43rd Annual EMS Week
“Always In Service”
May 21–27, 2017

Each year, EMS Week celebrates the contributions of EMTs, Paramedics, Dispatchers, and other EMS professionals to their communities. Thank you for your service!

The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services, Ground Vehicle Standard Division (CAAS-GVS) will be holding an open forum for organizations involved in the remounting of ambulances. The intent of this meeting is to identify and establish a dialogue with FSAMs and third party Remounters of ambulances in an effort to collect information that may be used in an identified project to create standards for the ambulance remount industry.

Any organization with interest in this topic is invited to attend, including ambulance builders, remounters, regulators, customers and component/material vendors.

CAAS GVS Remount Forum
June 7, 2017
NEW LOCATION: Harris Convention Center
Charlotte, NC
Register Now►

The following communication was emailed by Florida Medicaid on Monday, May 8.

Florida Medicaid Health Care Alert

May 8, 2017

Provider Type(s): All

Statewide Provider and Health Plan Claim Dispute Resolution Program

The Agency for Health Care Administration is contracted with MAXIMUS, an independent dispute resolution organization, to provide assistance to health care providers and health plans in resolving claim disputes. Claims submitted to managed care plans that have been denied in full or in part, or allegedly underpaid or overpaid may be eligible for dispute under the arbitration process.

To learn more about these available arbitration services, go to http://ahca.myflorida.com/medicaid/statewide mc/index.shtml or contact MAXIMUS directly at 1- 866-763-6395 (select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish), and then select Option 2.  Ask for Florida Provider Appeals Process.

Contact MAXIMUS for application forms and instructions on how to file a claim dispute.

Florida Ambulance Association has recently become aware of baseless Facebook and “prank” news site allegations of arrest leveled against Mr. Mark Postma, Chief Operating Officer of Sunstar Paramedics in Largo, Florida.

These scurrilous claims were posted to social media in the form of a fake news story created by a former employee. Mr. Postma and Sunstar Paramedics have requested the post’s immediate removal from Facebook as well as Channel 23 News, a “prank” news site. Additionally, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department has been investigating the defamatory posting.

The Board of the Florida Ambulance Association would like to congratulate its members selected as 2017 American Ambulance Association Stars of Life.

• Graham Losse, Nature Coast EMS

• Kasey Ras, Sunstar Paramedics

• Jonathan Balzer, Sunstar Paramedics

Did you miss it?

AHCA's Spring 2017 Florida Medicaid Provider Bulletin was released Monday, March 27.

Please note page 5, which briefly addresses the grievance and appeals process.