Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4792
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-29: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-26T08:07:57Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025" (H.R. 4792) aims to improve how Medicare pays for air ambulance services (emergency medical transport by helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft). It seeks to create a more data-driven payment system to ensure fair compensation for providers while addressing rising costs and access issues for patients, particularly in rural or remote areas.
Key Provisions
- Revision of Medicare Fee Schedule (Section 2): Adds a new subsection to Section 1834(l) of the Social Security Act, allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to update the payment rates for air ambulance services. Updates would use:
- Existing data from the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (which requires reporting on costs and other details).
- New data collected every three years from air ambulance providers and suppliers, including:
- Fixed and operating costs per base (location where services are based) related to Medicare patients.
- Usage rates of services by Medicare enrollees.
- Revenue from Medicare for these services.
- Any other relevant information deemed necessary by the Secretary.
- If revisions occur, the Secretary must consult stakeholders (like providers and patient groups) in a transparent process that prioritizes the collected data.
- Timely Rulemaking (Section 3): Requires HHS to finalize and publish rules for collecting air ambulance data (as outlined in the 2021 law) within six months of the bill's enactment.
- Government Accountability Office (GAO) Study (Section 4): Mandates a GAO report to Congress within one year of data collection starting. The report must cover:
- Average annual operating costs per air ambulance base.
- Average cost per transport.
- Mix of payment sources (e.g., Medicare, private insurance) for services.
- Whether current Medicare payments are sufficient.
- Differences in costs across geographic areas.
- Suggestions for improving the Medicare fee schedule for air ambulances.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Builds on the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act by enforcing and expanding its data collection requirements, making them mandatory every three years instead of optional or irregular.
- Introduces flexibility for HHS to adjust payment rates based on real-world cost and usage data, moving away from a static fee schedule that may not reflect current expenses (e.g., fuel, equipment, staffing).
- Adds accountability through required stakeholder input and a GAO analysis, which were not previously mandated for air ambulance payments under Medicare (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act).
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HHS gains tools to modernize payments using evidence, potentially reducing administrative burdens from outdated rates. GAO's involvement ensures congressional oversight, which could lead to future policy tweaks. This may increase short-term workload for data collection and rulemaking.
- On Citizens: Medicare beneficiaries (especially those in rural or emergency situations) could benefit from sustained access to air ambulance services if payments better match costs, preventing provider closures. However, if rates increase, it might indirectly raise overall Medicare spending, affecting premiums or taxes for all enrollees.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. healthcare policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Air Ambulance Providers and Suppliers: Directly impacted by data reporting requirements and potential payment adjustments; could see more stable funding to cover operations.
- Medicare Beneficiaries: Elderly and disabled individuals relying on these services for urgent medical transport; changes aim to maintain service availability without excessive out-of-pocket costs.
- HHS and GAO: Responsible for implementation, data management, and analysis.
- Congressional Committees: Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means (House), and Finance (Senate) will receive the GAO report and oversee revisions.
- Insurers and Payers: Indirectly affected through the analysis of payment mixes, which could influence broader healthcare reimbursement trends.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the Social Security Act by embedding data-driven mechanisms into Medicare's payment framework, promoting administrative efficiency under federal rulemaking authority. It enforces prior laws without creating new entitlements, reducing risks of legal challenges over payment adequacy.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; aligns with Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce and spending under Article I, Section 8, particularly for federal health programs.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Republican and Democratic representatives) highlights cross-party interest in rural healthcare access. The focus on transparency and stakeholder input could mitigate disputes over rate changes, but debates may arise over fiscal impacts on Medicare's budget amid broader healthcare cost concerns.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (18)
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25], Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-29: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-07-29: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-07-29: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (4 pages)