Rep. Panetta Supports Proposal to Stabilize Air Ambulance Service
Paso Robles, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) joined his colleagues to support bipartisan legislation aimed at maintaining air ambulance service in rural communities. The Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act, led by Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Ron Estes (KS-04), would stabilize reimbursement rates for air medical services to reflect the cost of providing care to people in remote areas of California’s 19th Congressional District.
Nearly 40 percent of air ambulance patients are Medicare beneficiaries, and while the cost of providing care has increased over time, the amount Medicare reimburses air ambulance companies has not. These cuts are even further exacerbated by the One Big Beautiful Bill law, which cut billions of dollars from California health providers. California's 19th Congressional District is already seeing the impact of these cuts as providers such as Mercy Air 34 reduce services. Mercy Air 34 recently announced plans to end air ambulance services based at the Paso Robles Airport.
The Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act would stop these cuts, pay providers the cost of providing lifesaving care, and maintain a vital lifeline for constituents in California’s 19th Congressional District. The bill updates Medicare payments for air ambulances and studies the true costs of providing air ambulance services. The bill builds on Rep. Panetta’s ongoing work to update Medicare payments to reflect the real cost of care in California’s 19th Congressional District, as recently highlighted in a Medicare forum held by Representative Panetta and Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24).
“People who pay into Medicare should be able to rely on emergency transportation services when needed,” said Representative Panetta. “For Americans living in rural areas, this means reliable air ambulance services if the unthinkable happens. The Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act would help ensure that air ambulance services are available for constituents in California’s 19th Congressional District as well as all across the country.”
“The need for reliable air ambulance services has never been more pressing, especially as many patients in our community rely on Medicare,” said Paso Robles Mayor John R. Hamon Jr. “By ensuring that reimbursement rates reflect the true cost of care, this legislation will protect vital services like Mercy Air 34 and guarantee that emergency medical transport remains available for those in need.”
“Access to timely emergency care can mean the difference between life and death, especially in rural communities,” said Ryan Ashlock, President of Adventist Health Central Coast. “We appreciate Representative Panetta’s leadership in working across the aisle to ensure air ambulance services remain available for patients who depend on them. His commitment to strengthening Medicare and supporting rural health access is critical for the people of California’s Central Coast.”
“Thank you to Rep. Panetta for co-sponsoring the bipartisan Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act,” said Gordon Lichtenberg, Lead Pilot for the Air Methods Paso Robles Base, which operates Mercy Air 34. “This critical bill will safeguard seniors’ access in California to the life-saving care air ambulance crews provide. By passing this legislation, Congress will ensure that the Medicare reimbursement rate is modernized to reflect the actual transport cost, preserving a vital lifeline when no other options exist.”
To ensure that patients in need of emergency care have access to air medical services, the Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act would:
- Authorize CMS to update the Medicare Fee Schedule using data collected through the No Surprises Act passed in 2020.
- Require air ambulance providers to submit additional data on the operational costs of air medical services.
- Require the GAO to issue a report on the costs associated with providing air ambulance services for Medicare beneficiaries.
- Implement a deadline for the Secretary of Health & Human Services to finalize the data collection requirements under the No Surprises Act.
Rep. Panetta has been a leader in Medicare payment reform, supporting efforts to match the reimbursements doctors receive to the cost of providing care. He has authored legislation to increase Medicare payments and introduced an amendment to the Majority’s partisan tax bill to prevent further Medicare cuts and instead increase payments to doctors.
###