House Reintroduces Vital Medicare Extender and EMS Workforce Bills
Medicare Ambulance Extender Bill Introduced in House
Yesterday, March 18, Representatives Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Terry Sewell (D-AL), Cliff Bentz (R-OR), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Mike Carey (R-OH), Danny Davis (D-IL), Carol Miller (R-WV) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) reintroduced the Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act (H.R. 2232). This legislation would extend the temporary Medicare ambulance add-on payments at their current levels of 2% urban, 3% rural and 22.6% super rural until January 1, 2028.
The AAA and our partners at the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) and National Rural Health Association (NRHA) have spearheaded efforts to extend and increase the levels of the Medicare ambulance add-on payments. We expect to see a Senate bill with the higher levels of 3.4% urban, 4.3% rural and 26.7% super rural introduced in the near future.
EMS Workforce Shortage Bill Introduced in House
Additionally, yesterday Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Michael Lawler (R-NY), Josh Harder (D-CA) reintroduced the Preserve Access to Rapid Ambulance Emergency Medical Treatment Act (PARA-EMT Act). H.R. 2220 would provide funding for grants to help recruit and train paramedics and EMTs, reduce barriers that prevent veteran medics transitioning to civilian paramedics and EMTs, and request the Secretary of Labor to conduct a study on the EMS workforce shortage and report their findings.
The legislation is supported by the AAA, NAEMT and NRHA. A copy of the press release on the introduction of H.R. 2220 can be found here.
