SOAR Campaign applauds Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jon Tester (D-MT), John Boozman (R-AR), and others for their critical leadership
(Washington, D.C.) – Last week, the U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation to preserve access to emergency air medical services for Veterans. The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill included an amendment that blocks the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from cutting reimbursement rates for emergency air medical transport services.
Sponsored by VA Committee Ranking Member Jerry Moran and co-sponsored by VA Committee Chairman Jon Tester and MilCon/VA Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member John Boozman along with Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Mike Crapo (R-ID), the appropriations amendment would prevent more than 4.7 million Veterans in rural communities across the country from losing critical access to lifesaving emergency care when the VA's arbitrary rate reduction is set to go into effect in February 2024.
“SOAR is grateful to Senators Moran, Tester, Boozman, Sullivan, Daines, Crapo, and the entire U.S. Senate for supporting and passing an amendment which prioritizes protecting Veteran access to emergency medical services,” said SOAR Spokesperson PJ Amartey. “This amendment language preserves a critical lifeline for the 4.7 million Veterans who call rural America home, and we applaud them for their important leadership.”
The VA's proposed rule would have slashed reimbursement rates for emergency ambulance services to Medicare levels, which haven’t been updated in over two decades and no longer reflect the true cost of a transport. This would force many air ambulance providers to reduce or eliminate services, especially in rural areas, disproportionately harming vulnerable populations that rely on them for life-saving care.
“Any change to the reimbursement rate must be based on the actual cost of providing these lifesaving services,” added Amartey. “This delay gives Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services time to produce its comprehensive cost data report and update the Medicare reimbursement rate.”
More information about the unfair government reimbursement structure can be found HERE.
Save Our Air Medical Resources (SOAR) is a national campaign dedicated to preserving access to emergency air medical services across the country, especially in rural communities.