Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-Scene Care and Support Act
Sponsored By: Senator Peter Welch
Introduced
Summary
Expands Medicare reimbursement to on-scene ambulance care that does not transport patients. It would add non-transport on-scene services to the Medicare definition of ambulance service and make them eligible for reimbursement at rates comparable to transport, effective January 1, 2027.
Show full summary
- Seniors and other Medicare enrollees would be able to get ambulance treatment at the scene covered by Medicare even if they are not transported.
- Ambulance providers and suppliers would be able to bill Medicare for non-transport on-scene services and receive payment comparable to transport reimbursement.
- The change amends the Social Security Act under Title XVIII to broaden the statutory definition of "ambulance service" so these on-scene services fall under Medicare Part B.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Medicare pays for on-scene ambulance care
If enacted, this bill would expand Medicare to cover ambulance services given on scene that do not include transportation. The change would apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027. Medicare would reimburse those non-transport on-scene services at rates comparable to regular ambulance transport. This would reduce out-of-pocket ambulance bills for beneficiaries who receive on-scene care and let ambulance providers bill Medicare for on-scene care even if they do not transport you.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Peter Welch
VT • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Sponsored 1/29/2026
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 1/29/2026
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 1/29/2026
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 1/29/2026
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
CO • D
Sponsored 1/29/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov