Washington, D.C. – This Congress, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) and Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), together with Reps. Earl Carter (R-GA) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) introduced the bipartisan Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2023. This bill would ensure that ambulance service providers continue delivering quality healthcare services and lifesaving medical assistance.

“As we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, our first responders provide irreplaceable care to those in need no matter where they are,” said Rep. Sewell. “However, due to the current Medicare reimbursement rate, these life-saving services come at a grave cost, especially to our rural communities, which are often too far from a traditional hospital. This bill addresses the critical need for ground ambulances in our most vulnerable communities, and I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bill with bipartisan support."

“When seconds are the difference between life and death, first responders arrive at the scene to provide life-saving care. This bill delivers key reforms so that Americans, particularly those in rural and underserved communities, can access ground ambulance transportation, and their providers can rely on consistent reimbursement from Medicare. This bill would help keep ambulance costs affordable,” said Rep. Wenstrup.

“When you’re in an emergency, timely access to an ambulance can mean the difference between life and death. With this bill, we will ensure that everyone, including those in remote or rural areas, has access to this life-saving care and that those who provide it receive proper Medicare reimbursement,” said Rep. Carter.

“Our emergency responders work every day on the frontlines to provide lifesaving care to our communities, and their invaluable role is even greater in rural and underserved areas, where hospitals and access to medical care are many miles away. This legislation addresses gaps in access to ambulance services and ensures that Americans are delivered affordable care, no matter where they live. I thank my colleagues, Representatives Wenstrup, Sewell, and Carter for pushing this bill forward,” said Rep. Tonko

To read the full text of the bill click here.