Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the bipartisan Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act, which would ensure that all communities, particularly those in rural and underserved areas, have access to quality emergency ambulance services no matter where they live.
“Whether an automobile accident, a fire, a health crisis, or another catastrophe, paramedics are there in those first critical minutes when courage, skill, and compassion are most needed,” said Senator Collins. “Our bipartisan bill would support these first responders, especially those in rural and underserved communities, by ensuring they are adequately reimbursed by Medicare for their services. As a Senator representing one of the most rural states in the country, I will continue to support the brave men and women who work around the clock to protect our communities.”
“The American Ambulance Association appreciates the support for ground ambulance services that Senators Cortez Masto, Collins, Cassidy, and Welch continue to provide by reintroducing the Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2025,” said Jamie Pafford Gresham, President of the American Ambulance Association. “If enacted, the legislation would prevent a gap in much-needed funding for local ground ambulance services to maintain the adjustments for providers that service rural, urban, and super-rural communities that are set to expire on October 1. Moreover, the legislation provides some relief for the substantial cost increases in labor, vehicle, equipment, and drugs and devices these local services are encountering and that current policy does not address.”
The Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act would extend and increase Medicare payments for ambulance services in all communities to close the gap between Medicare reimbursement and the cost of providing services, helping ambulance service providers hire and retain EMT staff, update their equipment, and continue providing lifesaving medical care across the country, especially in the underserved areas where EMT services can be expensive and hard to access.
The legislation is endorsed by the American Ambulance Association, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, and the National Rural Health Association.
Last year, Senator Collins’ bipartisan Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Reauthorization Act, which she coauthored with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), was signed into law. The legislation will extend funding for five additional years for SIREN Act grants to rural fire and EMS agencies nationwide, which support rural EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment, including naloxone to address the opioid overdose epidemic.
The full text of the bill can be read here.
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