URGENT: Contact your members of Congress to secure critical relief!
The temporary Medicare ambulance increases are scheduled to expire at the end of the year at a time when our industry is facing unprecedented financial challenges. In addition to extending the Medicare add-on payments for five years, the AAA is asking Congress to increase the 2% urban rate to 3.4%; the 3% rural rate to 4.3%; and the super rural 22.6% rate to 26.7% to help address the crisis.
The Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2021 (S. 2037, H.R. 2454) by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL), Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT), and Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) would extend the temporary Medicare ground ambulance increases of 2% urban, 3% rural and the super rural bonus payment for five years and help ensure that rural zip codes remain rural under the Medicare fee schedule following the upcoming zip code reclassification based on 2020 Census data.
These bills are essential to ensuring access for all patients to vital emergency and non-emergency care, but they still do not bring payment rates up to a level that covers the increased cost of labor and other expenditures. We ask that you write to your members of Congress to cosponsor S. 2037 or H.R. 2454 and support increasing the percentages to 3.4% urban, 4.3% rural and 26.7% for the super rural bonus payment.
The AAA is asking all EMS providers to contact their U.S. Senators and Representatives requesting them to cosponsor H.R. 2454 and S. 2037 and support the increase in our extenders. Just follow these steps:
- FILL OUT YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION: This will automatically ensure your message goes to the correct Members of Congress.
- CLICK SEND: Your message will go to your U.S. Senators and Representatives and you will receive a confirmation email.