Senator Patrick Leahy to Receive
AAA Legislative Recognition Award

For Immediate Release
Contact:
Amanda Riordan
ariordan@ambulance.org
703-610-0264

Washington, DC– The American Ambulance Association (AAA) will honor Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont with a Legislative Recognition Award in appreciation of his advocacy for emergency medical services.

Senator Leahy will be presented this award in June in Washington, DC by AAA’s Vermont Stars of Life—EMS personnel selected for their excellence and dedication. This year’s Star from the Green Mountain State is Brian Porch of Regional Ambulance Service in Rutland.

Senator Leahy was selected for the Legislative Recognition Award for championing the Medicare Ambulance Access, Fraud Prevention and Reform Act, which would make permanent the current temporary Medicare ambulance add-on increases and the super rural bonus payment. The legislation, S. 377 from the 114th Congress, would also treat ambulance services more like providers of health care services. It would require CMS to ambulance collect cost data utilizing a survey methodology that would likely result in usable information and not present an unnecessary burden on rural ambulance services.

AAA President Mark Postma notes, “Senator Leahy has been a trusted advocate for health care and emergency medical services, both in Vermont and across our country. The AAA is proud to present him with the Legislative Recognition Award.”

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1974, Senator Leahy is the Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senator Leahy is the senior-most member of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Agriculture Committee, as well as the ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State Department, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

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About the American Ambulance Association

Founded in 1979, the AAA represents hundreds of ambulance services across the United States that participate in emergency and nonemergency care and medical transportation. The Association serves as a voice and clearinghouse for ambulance services, and views prehospital care not only as a public service, but also as an essential part of the total public health care system.

AAA Stars of Life

The Stars of Life program celebrates the contributions of ambulance professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in service to their communities or the EMS profession. Stars of Life honors the dedication of these heroes while shining light on the critical role EMS plays in our healthcare infrastructure. This year, 101 EMS professionals will be honored as the 2017 Stars of Life. Meet the stars at www.stars.ambulance.org.

AAA Mission Statement

The mission of the American Ambulance Association is to promote health care policies that ensure excellence in the ambulance services industry and provide research, education, and communications programs to enable its members to effectively address the needs of the communities they serve.