Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) announced today that he has reintroduced legislation to preserve emergency care in rural Oregon by ensuring that rural ambulance service providers are fairly paid for their services. The Medicare Ambulance Access, Fraud Prevention, and Reform Act of 2015 (H.R. 745) would end the uncertainty that rural ambulance services face over reimbursement from Medicare by making permanent appropriate rates for their services. Walden was joined in this effort by other lawmakers in the House and Senate from both parties.
“Rural ambulance services save lives and provide needed care in Oregon every day, and they must have the resources they need to provide the highest quality care. But from Grants Pass and Medford to Redmond to The Dalles, I have heard from providers how uncertainty over Medicare rates causes confusion and hampers care. This bipartisan legislation would end the uncertainty rural ambulance services face over Medicare reimbursement rates and allow them to answer calls for help no matter the day, hour, or patient’s location,” Walden said.
Under current law, Medicare’s rates to reimburse ambulance services are significantly below the cost of delivering services, especially in rural areas. To address this shortfall, Congress regularly passes temporary legislative fixes to give the ambulance services higher rates. Every time this temporary relief is about to expire, it threatens the availability of ambulance services nationwide. This legislation would make these rate adjustments permanent to give ambulance providers certainty. To read a summary of the legislation, please click here.
Leaders in the emergency services community in Oregon praised the legislation. “Mercy Flights is grateful that Rep. Walden has introduced a bill to provide much needed Medicare relief for ambulance services. It directly impacts our ability to provide lifesaving care on 911 calls every day to the citizens of Jackson County. Patients in our community depend on our quick response, highly trained EMTS and paramedics, and the latest medications and technology in their time of need. These Medicare add-ons are essential for us to maintain high quality patient care,” said Doug Stewart, CEO of Mercy Flights Inc. based in Medford. Stewart was at Walden’s town hall in Medford on Friday, where the issue was discussed.
“We agree that Congress should ensure continued access to ambulances through permanent relief and reform. By passage of this bill, we will have the ability to develop responsible budgets on known, consistent reimbursement rates. The Walden bill will provide needed stability for us to deliver quality patient care to people in their moment of need. The bill provides added Medicare payments that are essential for us to provide lifesaving care, medications, and transport, especially in remote areas. We support Congressman Walden’s bill and look forward to its passage,” said Robert F. Palmer, Fire Chief of Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue in The Dalles.
“AMR is proud to serve the citizens of Josephine County 24 hours a day and seven days a week. It is expensive to offer the high quality of care to all who call regardless of ability to pay. This bill will offer long term stability so we can continue to do what we do best, save lives,” said Dave Mathews, Paramedic and Manager, American Medical Response in Grants Pass.
Three other Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the House joined Walden in his efforts, including Reps. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Richard Neal (D-Mass.). The same measure has been introduced in the Senate by Sens. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.).
Walden originally introduced this bill last year, but it did not become law before the conclusion of the last session of Congress. However, a bipartisan push to permanently reform reimbursement rates for Medicare providers across the spectrum gives this effort extra momentum.
As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Walden has long worked to increase access to quality health care in rural Oregon. He has been honored with numerous awards from health care advocates, including the American Ambulance Association’s 2015 Legislative Recognition Award.
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