Welcome & Keynote Address: StandOut Influence: How To Get People On Board
The Power of Consensus and Negotiation to Increase Buy-In
Connie Podesta, Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker
Zoom calls. Web cams. Conference lines. How do you create consensus in a world that is constantly changing? Connie’s keynote gives you a crash course in psychology and human behavior to give you the tools necessary to help teams work more cohesively and creatively for better bottom-line results! Bottom line: Getting the job done the right way hinges on your ability to “sell” yourself and your ideas in such a trusting and positive way that people will CHOOSE to: Follow your lead. Cooperate with you. Learn from you. Buy from you. Partner with you. And…support you so you can make things happen! With a rare blend of laugh-out-loud humor, uncanny insight into human nature and killer persuasive strategies, Human Relations expert Connie Podesta will take you right inside the minds of the people you need to influence and impress. You will learn how to negotiate differences, influence behaviors, change attitudes, overcome objections, and close the deal so you can create an amazing network of PEOPLE who have one common goal: to willingly help you GET THE JOB DONE NOW!

Legislative Update Part 1 - Ambulance Industry (2021 and beyond)
Jonathan Feldman, Arc Strategies
The CAA’s Legislative Advocate, Jonathan Feldman from Arc Strategies, will review the CAA's lobbying efforts that took place over the last legislative session and will provide an overview of what to expect in the future.

PCCP ERISA: Mastering Appeal Dispute and Prompt Payment Laws - Part 1
Ed Norwood, ERN - The National Council of Reimbursement Advocacy
There is an urban legend that ERISA stands for the “Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,” but is that really true? After all, we’re talking about health coverage here, not “retirement income;” And experts say that under existing federal law, there’s nothing that gives employees “security” on their health coverage. To help healthcare providers advocate for patients under the ERISA and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, ERN/The National Council of Reimbursement Advocacy has organized a comprehensive professional claims compliance federal accelerated program that takes registrants into a 2 hour session on cases and laws that prohibits ERISA Plans from engaging in unfair payment patters and claim settlement practices.

Wilderness Medicine – Case Study – A Story of Survival
Danielle Campagne, MD, UCSF Fresno
How would you fare if left alone in the wilderness? Human behavior and how we respond to catastrophes is so variable. In this talk, you will hear an in-depth case discussion about an intense search and rescue mission that occurred inside the Sierra National Forest. You will get to hear both sides of the rescue – from the SAR team perspective and the victim.

‘Riders on the Storm’ - Surviving hyper turbulent times in EMS
Matt Zavadsky, MedStar Mobile Healthcare
The unthinkable has happened! After decades of economic prosperity, rising call volumes and revenue, and healthcare growth, the world changed–overnight. Call volumes are down, sales taxes have tanked, and thousands of EMS and public safety jobs are on the line. Major national EMS associations are actually collaborating on major initiatives. How have some EMS agencies leveraged new EMS roles and value to gain economic stability and maintain relevance in their community? This session will highlight major national trends in EMS delivery, and walk participants through steps they can take to be good partners to their community leaders and enhance their value to the community.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Legislative Update Part 2 - Grassroots Advocacy Workshop
Jonathan Feldman, Arc Strategies
The CAA’s Legislative Advocate, Jonathan Feldman from Arc Strategies, will provide some tips on grassroots lobbying and helpful hints that you can use to build relationships with your Senators and Assembly Members.

REIMBURSEMENT SESSION:
PCCP ERISA: Mastering Appeal Dispute and Prompt Payment Laws - Part 2
Ed Norwood, ERN - The National Council of Reimbursement Advocacy
There is an urban legend that ERISA stands for the “Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,” but is that really true? After all, we’re talking about health coverage here, not “retirement income;” And experts say that under existing federal law, there’s nothing that gives employees “security” on their health coverage. To help healthcare providers advocate for patients under the ERISA and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, ERN/The National Council of Reimbursement Advocacy has organized a comprehensive professional claims compliance federal accelerated program that takes registrants into a 2 hour session on cases and laws that prohibits ERISA Plans from engaging in unfair payment patters and claim settlement practices.

OPERATIONS/STARS SESSION:
You Can Save a Life, You Can Save a System
Shawn Baird, MA, EMT-P - MetroWest Family of Companies
Every call you run refines your talent as an influencer. You can take your unique experiences from the street and recognize you have what it takes to impact the future of EMS. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:
CAA's First Annual Employment Law Appraisal
Amber Healy, Esq. - Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
The session will touch on trending issues (report card type presentation) and provide a forecast/preview of employment bills that are pending and/or set to be effective January 1, 2022. 

REIMBURSEMENT SESSION:
Wine and Whine - A Discussion of Current Billing Challenges Over Wine
Asbel Montes, Solutions Group Consulting
Ed Norwood, ERN - The National Council of Reimbursement Advocacy
Melissa Harris - Ambuserve, Inc.
Let’s end Reimbursement Day 1 on a high note. Join our reimbursement specialists for a discussion of the hot topics in California ambulance reimbursement. Don’t miss this opportunity to talk about the billing issues with our panel of experts and other billing office staff.

OPERATIONS/STARS SESSION:
Split Second Decision
Danielle Campagne, MD, UCSF Fresno
Exploration of the factors that influence split second decision making in EMS. 

CAASE Awards Presentations From Finalists
The CAASE awards program provides California ambulance operators the opportunity to be recognized for excellence, resourcefulness, and ground-breaking ideas. Attend this session to hear presentations from the CAASE awards finalists.

GENERAL SESSION:
COVID-19 Lessons Learned - Partnerships/Alternate Service Models
Moderated by Rob Lawrence, California Ambulance Association
Shawn Baird, President, American Ambulance Association
Todd Valeri, President, California Ambulance Association
Matt Zavadsky, MedStar Mobile Healthcare
The last 18 months have provided many challenges and hardships for EMS providers both across the country and state. Join national and state EMS leaders as they discuss what has worked and what needs further work to keep our profession both afloat and solvent. CAA Executive Director Rob Lawrence will lead the panel through the pandemic, the problems and the paramedicine.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Difficult Conversations about Uncomfortable Topics
Scott Moore, Moore EMS Consulting
Coaching and mentoring employees can be one of the more rewarding and challenging aspects of supervising or managing others.  These issues are compounded when the reason for the interaction involves a difficult or embarrassing employee issue.  Because these issues are sensitive in nature, many supervisors or managers chose to postpone or avoid the topic altogether, causing the problem to persist and undermine the team’s performance.  Difficult issues include employee hygiene, inappropriate clothing, political or religious workplace discussions, and personality issues are among some of the more challenging employee conversations to tackle. This session is intended to provide attendees with practical tips about how to approach these challenging supervisory discussions.  We will discuss steps that every supervisor can take long before these issues arise, the implications for putting off the difficult conversation, and strategic considerations regarding the time and place of the employee meeting to give it the best chance of being successful. Attendees will participate in a facilitated discussion and witness interactive demonstrations of how these discussions can go very well or very poorly.

REIMBURSEMENT SESSION:
A Federal Update: The Intersection of Ambulance, Congress and Policy
Asbel Montes, Solutions Group Consulting
This session will provide attendees with updates from the ground ambulance cost data collection process, ground and air ambulance surprise billing initiatives to other legislative agendas surrounding other alternative payment methods. The impacts of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency has provided a pathway for many alternative payment models and this session will discuss how the Telehealth, Treatment in Place and Hospital Without Walls waivers may impact future reimbursement.

OPERATIONS SESSION:
PIO Class
Rob Lawrence, California Ambulance Association
Alexia Jobson, APR, NREMT, Public Affairs Manager, REMSA Health
Both Alexa and Rob have many years’ experience of managing both media and communications for organizations they have operated in and will provide an overview of methods to keep your agency in the public eye and maintain a great public image.

GENERAL SESSION:
Best Practices for Mitigating Ambulance/ED Delays
James Pierson - Medic Ambulance Service, Inc.
Matt Zavadsky, MedStar Mobile Healthcare
Chris Kelly - Page, Wolfberg & Wirth
In many communities, COVID has stressed healthcare systems to the max, and dramatically increased EMS response volume. Staffing in EMS and hospitals is critically low, hospitals are nearly full, and 911 call volume in some communities at record levels. The eye of this storm is the hospital emergency department. Patient volume at record levels, patients in the ED on observation status, and even patients awaiting inpatient beds are resulting in delays for ambulance crews trying to transition patients from their care to the ED staff. Numerous agencies across the country are reporting 60, 90, and 120+ minute delays getting patients into the ED. At the same time, some hospitals are seemingly able release EMS crews rather quickly, so they can respond to other 911 calls in the community. A panel of experts for AIMHI member agencies will share their best practices for mitigating ED delays, and the legal consequences of ambulance parking. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Preparing for PAGA: Mitigating Risk and Combatting the Rise of Wage & Hour Litigation in CA
Corey J. Cabral, Partner & Chair of the PAGA Litigation Practice Group at CDF Labor Law
EMS employers are not immune to the outbreak of wage and hour and PAGA claims plaguing California businesses.  Healthcare is one of the largest and fastest-growing industries in the country, placing a bullseye on employers in this sector.  Attendees will be provided with an analysis of wage and hour issues impacting ambulance companies, best practices to avoid these types of claims, and strategies for defending them.  The session will include an examination of potential claims arising from timekeeping and break practices, off-the-clock work, non-hourly compensation and resulting wage calculations, wage statements, mandatory COVID-19 vaccination and testing, and other operational issues unique to EMS workers.  The session will also include strategies for preventing, managing and resolving the representative PAGA/class action lawsuits in which these claims are typically raised.

REIMBURSEMENT SESSION:
Current Auditing Trends - A multi-payer perspective
Chris Kelly, Page, Wolfberg & Wirth
Due to the Public Health Emergency, 2020 saw a pause in reimbursement auditing by most payers, but audits are now back in full swing.  This session will look at current auditing practices that are being used by Medicare contractors, Medicaid, Commercial insurance, and other entities who review reimbursement issues.  Types of audits and the most frequent errors cited by reviewers will be discussed.  We will also consider strategies to avoid errors and the overpayments that they cause.  

OPERATIONS SESSION:
California Ambulance Strike Teams - The Need to KNOW!
James Pierson, Medic Ambulance Service
Brad Gates, EMSA - Disaster Medical Services Division
An overview of lessons learned from multiple deployments throughout California. We will review all aspects from receiving the request, preparation, deployment, safety and reimbursement. Both Jimmy and Brad have a profound knowledge wit both field level, overhead and state operations in ambulance strike team deployments. 

Break in the CAA Marketplace / Vendor Raffle

GENERAL SESSION:
California Ambulance Industry: 2021 and Beyond
Todd Valeri, American Ambulance
James Pierson, Medic Ambulance Service
Kimberly Freeman, MD, CPE, FACEP, Paramedic, President of the EMS Medical Directors Association of CA
Kristin Weivoda, EMS Administrator, Region IV, Disaster Medical Health Coordinator
Others TBD

Closing Remarks & CAAPAC Raffle