Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), alongside U.S. Representatives Ron Estes (R-Kan.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), reintroduced the Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act to improve access to emergency air medical services that are critical for saving lives, particularly in rural communities. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would utilize data collected under the No Surprises Act to update Medicare reimbursement rates for emergency air services.
“Coloradans should be able to trust that if they are sick or injured, they can get the medical attention they need, no matter where they live,” said Bennet.“As air ambulance bases across rural America have been forced to close, people in rural communities have lost access to lifesaving care. This bipartisan bill builds on our efforts to bring transparency to our health care system and improves access to lifesaving care for all Americans.”
“During a medical emergency, Tennesseans living in rural communities shouldn’t have to worry about access to emergency medical transportation, including air ambulance,” said Blackburn. “Our bipartisan Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act would preserve critical access to life-saving air ambulance services for Tennesseans and all Americans, no matter where they live.”
“Air ambulances provide lifesaving services, especially for the many Kansans living in rural parts of our state,” said Estes. “The bipartisan bill I’m reintroducing with Rep. DelBene, along with my colleagues Senators Bennet and Blackburn, is a common sense way to ensure all Americans have emergency access to hospitals and specialized providers regardless of their location. When seconds matter, air ambulances have proven to be the best way to care for patients in need, and under this legislation, the work of the pilots and medical professionals on board will continue to save lives.”
“Every second counts during a medical emergency, and for many in Washington, especially in rural and underserved areas, air ambulance services are a lifeline,” said DelBene. “Medicare’s outdated reimbursement rates no longer reflect the true cost of providing this critical care, putting access at risk. This legislation will ensure that reimbursement is based on current data, so patients can continue to count on timely, lifesaving emergency transport when it matters most.”
Air ambulances can be the difference between life and death – a 2019 study found injured patients transported by air ambulance were less likely to die than those taken by ground ambulance.
Medicare beneficiaries account for nearly 40% of all air medical transports. While operational costs of air ambulance services have increased, Medicare reimbursements have not. A 2017 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that Medicare reimbursement rates for air ambulance services are significantly below the costs of providing care, especially in rural areas.
The current Medicare reimbursement rate for air medical services is determined by the air ambulance fee schedule. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) first established the air ambulance fee schedule in 2002 using data from a 1998 cost pool, and it has not been updated since. Since then, over 47 air ambulance bases have closed, and more closures are expected, particularly limiting emergency care access for Americans living in rural communities.
To ensure that patients in need of emergency care have access to air medical services, the Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act would:
- Authorize CMS to update the Medicare Fee Schedule using data collected through the No Surprises Act passed in 2020;
- Require air ambulance providers to submit additional data on the operational costs of air medical services;
- Require the GAO to issue a report on the costs associated with providing air ambulance services for Medicare beneficiaries; and
- Implement a deadline for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to finalize the data collection requirements under the No Surprises Act.
“We applaud the introduction of the Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act,” said Jana Williams, President & CEO, Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS). “This bipartisan, bicameral legislation reflects a growing recognition that air medical providers are not just responders—they are lifelines, especially in rural and underserved communities. Air medical programs are increasingly essential mobile extensions of our national emergency care infrastructure. This bill takes a pragmatic step forward to ensure these high-acuity services remain available when and where they’re needed most. We look forward to working with Congress and other stakeholders to advance this critical legislation and protect access to life-saving care across the country.”
“The Protecting Air Ambulances for Americans Act underscores the vital role that air medical transportation plays in preserving the health and safety of millions nationwide,” said Rob Hamilton, CEO of Air Methods. “We remain committed to advocating for lasting solutions that ensure no one is left without access to emergency care during a medical crisis. We’re grateful for the leadership of Senators Marsha Blackburn and Michael Bennet, as well as Representatives Ron Estes and Suzan DelBene, whose unwavering support brings us one step closer to safeguarding emergency air medical services, especially for rural communities and seniors who need them most.”
Bennet and Blackburn first introduced the Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act in 2023.
The bill text is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE.