Starting January 1, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement updates to EMS reimbursement criteria under the Advanced Life Support Level 2 (ALS2) category to include additional blood products. The update is intended to create a more equitable health care system to enable better accessibility, quality, and affordability.
This modification means that EMS can now be reimbursed when transporting and administering “Low Titer O Whole Blood” (LTOWB) and other specialized blood products, expanding blood availability in prehospital settings. This change could reduce patient mortality rates, especially for those suffering from hemorrhagic shock, by enabling earlier access to life-saving care.
With this expanded reimbursement criteria, more EMS providers may invest in the training and equipment required to administer blood safely, reducing costs associated with long-term trauma care by delivering timely interventions. CMS’s expanded coverage will help bring equitable, high-quality emergency care to all communities, regardless of location or agency size.