FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Tristan North
tnorth@ambulance.org
October 10, 2024

Congressman Mike Bost Honored with Legislative Recognition Award

from the American Ambulance Association

Washington, D.C. — The American Ambulance Association (AAA) has awarded Mike Bost (IL) a 2024 AAA Legislative Recognition Award in recognition of his leadership in ensuring veterans continue to have access to emergency 9-1-1 and interfacility ground ambulance services.

Congressman Bost introduced the bipartisan VA Emergency Transportation Access Act (S. 2757, H.R. 6433) to direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to further analyze the impact of the VA Final Rule on Special Modes of Transportation and create an advisory committee to evaluate future reimbursement rates for ambulance services.

The Rule as it stands would reimburse ambulance service providers below the costs of providing medical and transport services. S. 2757 would help ensure that ambulance service providers throughout Kansas and the country do not face further cuts to VA reimbursement which would limit their ability to provide lifesaving emergency medical services to our nation’s veterans.

Due to the efforts of Congressman Bost and a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives, the VA has recently stated it will delay implementation of the Final Rule for four years which would provide time to determine more fair and adequate payment rates for ambulance services.

“We greatly appreciate the leadership of Congressman Moran in ensuring that our veterans and entire communities will continue to have access to vital ground ambulance service,” said AAA President, Randy Strozyk. “His perseverance paid off with the VA recognizing the need to delay implementation of the final rule to provide more time to address concerns that the new payment system could adversely affect ambulance access for veterans.”

The American Ambulance Association will be presenting Congressman Bost with his Legislative Recognition Award this November at the AAA Annual Stars of Life Event, which honors emergency medical services professionals from around the nation who have gone above and beyond in service to their communities.