THE ASSOCIATION OF

AAMS Statement on Balance Billing Solution

The Association of Air Medical Services, on behalf of its over 300 members operating over 1,400 and fixed-wing air nationwide, applauds the action taken by Congress today to remove patients from disputes between insurers and air providers. However, AAMS remains concerned that certain aspects of the independent dispute resolution process may favor insurers and we hope to work with Congress and the various federal agencies to implement a fair and equitable process for billing disputes. We also fully support the data collection and analysis requirements of the bill, and believe this additional level of transparency will inform future legislative and regulatory efforts as they relate to billing and reimbursement.

AAMS will continue to work on behalf of its members and the patients they serve to ensure the best outcomes for both. We also continue to support the work of the Air Ambulance Patient Billing Advisory Committee and hope this process will strongly consider their recommendations.

Below is a statement from AAMS President and CEO Cameron Curtis:

“Air ambulances offer a lifeline, sometimes the only lifeline, to patients in need of critical care. While we remain concerned about certain aspects of this bill, now is the time to come together as a community and support the dedicated EMS professionals, both air and ground, that are serving on the front lines. As Americans face the ever- increasing severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing public health emergency, air medical services have provided over 20,000 COVID-19 related transports to the most severely sick and injured patients, often from remote and rural areas to high levels of care.”

Below is a statement from AAMS Chair Deborah Boudreaux:

“AAMS wholeheartedly supports efforts to remove the patient form the threat of balance billing. However, we must do so in a way that protects patient care and preserves the ability of air medical providers and the larger health care community to deliver life- saving services. On behalf of air medical services and the families and communities that depend on emergency air ambulances, we hope this legislation will provide a fair and equitable path to the sustainability of emergency health care services.”