S. 2518

II
  119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
  S. 2518
  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
  July 29, 2025
  Mr. Bennet  (for himself and  Mrs. Blackburn ) introduced the following bill; which
  was read twice and referred to the  Committee
  on Finance
  A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise payment for air
  ambulance services under the Medicare program.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
  Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of
  2025  .
2.
Improvements to Medicare payment system for air ambulance services
Section 1834(l) of the Social Security Act (42
  U.S.C. 1395m(l)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(18)
Improvements to medicare payment system for air ambulance
  services
(A)
In general
The Secretary may revise the fee schedule otherwise established under
  this subsection for air ambulance services based on data described in
  subparagraph (B) and data collected under subparagraph (C).
(B)
Data described
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the data described in this
  subparagraph is data collected pursuant to the provisions of, and
  amendments made by, section 106 of division BB of the Consolidated
  Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260).
(C)
Additional data collection
The Secretary shall require, once every 3 years, providers of services
  and suppliers furnishing air ambulance services to submit to the
  Secretary—
(i)
data relating to the fixed and operated costs per air ambulance
  base attributable to furnishing air ambulance services to
  individuals enrolled under this part and data relating to the
  utilization of such services by such individuals;
(ii)
data relating to the revenue obtained by such providers and
  suppliers under this part attributable to the furnishing of such
  services; and
(iii)
any other information determined appropriate by the
  Secretary.
(D)
Consultation
In the case that the Secretary elects to revise the fee schedule for
  air ambulance services under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
  consider stakeholder input in a process that is transparent and
  appropriately considers data described in subparagraph (B) and data
  collected under subparagraph (C).
  .
3.
Timely finalization of air ambulance data collection rule
Not later than 6 months after the date of
  enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall finalize and
  publish a final rule implementing the air ambulance data collection requirements
  under section 106 of division BB of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
  (Public Law 116–260).
4.
GAO study on emergency air ambulance costs
Not later than 1 year after the date on which
  data begins to be collected pursuant to the provisions of, and amendments made by,
  section 106 of division BB of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law
  116–260), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee
  on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on
  Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report detailing—
(1)
the average annual operating costs per air ambulance base;
(2)
the average cost per transport by air ambulance;
(3)
the payor mix for air ambulance services;
(4)
the adequacy of Medicare payments for such services;
(5)
geographic variations in the cost of furnishing such services; and
(6)
recommendations on improving the fee schedule under section 1834(l) of the
  Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)) for air ambulance services.