Bills · S 2518
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 2518Health
Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025
INTRO JUL 29· LAST ACTION JUL 29
READING
3MIN
COSPONSORS
13BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because emergency air ambulance services are crucial, especially in rural areas, but they are also incredibly expensive. Many patients, including those on Medicare, often face substantial 'surprise bills' when insurance or Medicare doesn't cover the full cost, leading to significant financial hardship.
If this bill becomes law, it could lead to Medicare payments for air ambulance services that are more aligned with actual costs, potentially reducing the financial burden on patients and making these vital services more sustainable for providers. If it doesn't pass, the current issues of potentially insufficient or misaligned Medicare payments, along with the high out-of-pocket costs for patients, could continue without a clear mechanism for improvement based on comprehensive, up-to-date data.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to update how much Medicare pays for air ambulance services.
This gives Medicare the flexibility to adjust payments based on current cost information, potentially making them fairer.
PROVISION 02
Requires air ambulance companies to report their costs, revenue, and service usage to the government every three years.
This ensures Medicare has real, up-to-date financial data to use when considering payment changes.
PROVISION 03
Requires the Secretary of HHS to finalize an existing rule for collecting air ambulance data within six months of the bill's enactment.
This speeds up the implementation of a separate data collection effort, providing more information sooner.
PROVISION 04
Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study air ambulance costs, payment adequacy, and suggest improvements to Medicare's payment system.
An independent study will provide a comprehensive look at the industry and offer recommendations for better policy.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 13
D· Colorado
YRS IN OFFICE
17
BILLS LED
82
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 92%
DEM 6 REP 7 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSJUL 29
Introduced in Senate
JUL 29
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 2518
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJul 29, 2025
Last actionJul 29, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FINANCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JUL 29, 2025
Senate BillS 2518Health
Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025
INTRODUCED JUL 29, 2025· LAST ACTION JUL 29, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
3 min
COSPONSORS
13
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
