Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Estes
Introduced
Summary
This bill would revise Medicare payment for air ambulance services and require regular, provider-submitted cost and utilization data to guide those payment updates.
Show full summary
- Medicare enrollees would have air ambulance fees set using more detailed cost and utilization data, not older payment rules.
- Air ambulance providers would need to submit data every three years on base operating costs, utilization, revenue, and any other information the Secretary requires.
- The Secretary of Health and Human Services would be authorized to revise the air ambulance fee schedule using that data and must consider stakeholder input in a transparent process. The Secretary would also have to finalize and publish the data-collection rule within six months of enactment.
- The Comptroller General would have to report to congressional finance and health committees within one year after data collection starts on costs per base, cost per transport, payor mix, Medicare payment adequacy, geographic cost differences, and recommendations to improve the fee schedule.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Government study on air ambulance costs
If enacted, a federal watchdog would report to Congress one year after data collection starts. The report would show costs per base and per flight, and who pays. It would review Medicare payment adequacy and regional differences. The study would not change payments by itself but could guide later policy.
New reporting rules for air ambulance providers
If enacted, air ambulance providers would report data to HHS every three years. They would submit costs per base, Medicare revenue, and use of services. HHS would have six months to publish the data rule. This would add compliance work and costs for providers. The data could support later Medicare payment changes.
Possible changes to Medicare air ambulance rates
If enacted, HHS could change Medicare payment rates for air ambulance rides. Changes would be based on 2021 law data and new reports. HHS would take stakeholder input in a transparent process. Rates could rise or fall, changing provider pay and patient out-of-pocket costs.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Estes
KS • R
Cosponsors
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Panetta
CA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Steube
FL • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Crow
CO • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Mann
KS • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Van Duyne
TX • R
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Tenney
NY • R
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Obernolte
CA • R
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Ruiz
CA • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Yakym
IN • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Miller (WV)
WV • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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