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Frequently Asked Questions

  • A licensed EMS agency with department and EMS Medical Control Authority Approval.

    The center of the program must always be a licensed EMS agency and licensed EMS personnel who have the permission of the Medical Control Authority in which they and the program function, and approval from the State of Michigan.

    Programs are required to have a designated Medical Director who meets the requirements set forth by the state and is approved by the local Medical Control Authority (often the Medical Control Authority Physician Director).

  • Nearly 20 programs exist in Michigan. Here are a few programs truly doing CIP by
    definition:

    Educational programs are also available throughout Michigan to learn more and get
    involved in CIP:

  • Programs may be compensated through shared hospital savings due to the effectiveness of preventing unplanned readmissions and decreasing unnecessary ED utilization. Some programs additionally have partnerships that result in direct payment for services.
     
    Payers (insurance plans) may contract with programs for services but are waiting for the regulatory process (minimum standards and verification of such) before they will “turn on” billing codes that would greatly ease the process for compensation.
  • The current CIP programs have educated their personnel through Hennepin Technical College or HVA EMS Education. MDHHS-BETP has added Mobile CE to the list of currently approved CIP education providers. MIH education is protocol-driven and approved by the Quality Assurance Task Force to achieve a particular care goal in partnership with a hospital or other entity.

  • Community Integrated Paramedicine compensation varies depending on the role the individual plays and the type of program. Generally, it is more than a paramedic at the same agency, with some places offering percentages (8-10%) more than other paramedics at the same organization.

  • Most training programs take less than one year to complete for people who already hold emergency medical provider credentials. One example of coursework and required training can be found here.
  • CIP aims to prevent unnecessary emergency room (ER) visits and hospital admissions and readmissions and provide better access to quality care for patients at home. Paramedics are trained for specialized roles and perform basic, nonemergent, clinical tasks in people’s homes with the goal of:

    • reducing hospital admissions
    • decreasing ER visits
    • extending health care access to populations lacking the insurance coverage transportation, or ability to establish relationships with their own primary
      providers

    CIP addresses the health care disparities and inequities that are rampant within Michigan’s communities, especially among economically disadvantaged households.