Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025
Summary
The "Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025" aims to revise Medicare payments for air ambulance services. It mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collect data on air ambulance costs and utilization. The bill also requires a GAO study on emergency air ambulance costs and directs the Secretary to finalize data collection rules.
Expected Effects
This act will likely lead to changes in how Medicare reimburses air ambulance providers. The goal is to ensure fair payments while addressing concerns about high costs. The data collected will inform future adjustments to the fee schedule.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially more accurate Medicare payments for air ambulance services.
- Increased transparency in air ambulance costs.
- Data-driven decision-making for payment adjustments.
- Stakeholder input considered in fee schedule revisions.
- Improved understanding of geographic cost variations.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased administrative burden on air ambulance providers due to data collection requirements.
- Possible delays in finalizing and implementing the data collection rule.
- Uncertainty regarding the impact of fee schedule revisions on patient access to air ambulance services.
- Risk that revised payments may not adequately cover costs for some providers.
- The act does not directly address out-of-network billing, a major driver of high costs for patients.
Constitutional Alignment
This bill appears to align with the Constitution, particularly Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to provide for the general welfare. By revising Medicare payments and studying air ambulance costs, the bill aims to improve healthcare access and affordability. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).