AMERICAN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION

MMM · Medicare/Medicaid

Lobbied on the Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act (H.R. 2232) and the FY2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act (Public Law 119-4) to extend and raise the percentages of temporary increases in Medicare payments for ground ambulance services. Educated congressional offices and committees on mandatory past due changes in geographical designation of zip codes under the Medicare ambulance fee schedule following the 2020 Census. Lobbied on the Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies Act of 2025 (H.R. 2538) to create a CMMI demonstration project on the reimbursement of ambulance response without transport, and the draft Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-Scene Care and Support Act. Lobbied on the draft Community Paramedicine Act to provide local governments and partners with funding to furnish mobile integrated healthcare. Engaged with congressional offices on the draft Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites Act (PEAKS Act). Lobbied in support of reducing the amount of the copay for critical ambulance services for patients in Medicare Advantage plans.

Literal federal measure citations: H.R. 2232, H.R. 2538

HCR · Health Issues

Educated congressional offices and committees on the local oversight and rate controls of ground ambulance service organizations and the requirements placed on such organizations as 9-1-1 emergency medical services as well first responders. And the challenges that ground ambulance service organizations, which are predominately small entities providing medical services to individual communities, face in receiving adequate reimbursement from payors. Lobbied in support of the final report of the Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing Advisory Committee.

LBR · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace

Lobbied to raise the profile of the severe shortage of paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in the U.S. and address the problem through emergency medical service training programs, and retaining current paramedics and EMTs through access to first responder benefits. Lobbied on the PARA-EMT Act (H.R. 2220), Apprenticeship Pathways Act of 2025 (S. 235), Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder Act (S. 978, H.R. 2094), draft Pathways to Health Careers Act, draft Supporting our First Responders Act, draft Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act and the National Defense Reauthorization Act of 2026.

Literal federal measure citations: H.R. 2220, S. 235, S. 978, H.R. 2094

BUD · Budget/Appropriations

Lobbied on the Senate and House FY2026 Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bills for funding for the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response for paramedic and EMT training grants to help address the emergency medical service workforce shortage. Lobbied on the FY2025 Budget Resolution on potential changes to the Medicaid program.

DIS · Disaster Planning/Emergencies

Lobbied in support of resources for ground ambulance service organizations in order to be prepared to respond to future public health emergencies, natural disasters and acts of terrorism.

TAX · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code

Lobbied for inclusion of relief from the federal fuel excise tax for private ground ambulance service organizations as part of FY2025 Budget Reconciliation.