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Ban on surprise medical bills could reshape U.S. air ambulance industry
New legislation to end surprise medical billing could spell far-reaching changes for the U.S. air ambulance industry. By Elan Head | January 19, 2021
Estimated reading time 18 minutes, 4 seconds.
New legislation to end surprise medical billing could spell far-reaching changes for the U.S. air ambulance industry, slashing profits associated with exorbitant balance bills and laying the groundwork for future reimbursement policies that incentivize safety and quality.
Several sections in the No Surprises Act focus specifically on air ambulances, making it potentially the most consequential legislation for the U.S. air ambulance industry since the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Skip Robinson Photo
- December 21, 2020, 7:14 AM
The largest U.S. helicopter air ambulance company has launched a full-frontal assault on competitors who sell annual “memberships.” Testifying before the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) earlier this month, Air Methods executive v-p Chris Myers attacked these programs, accusing them of preying on the fears of senior citizens, for whom transports are already almost totally covered by federal Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements.
Myers criticized the AirMed Care Network specifically. The network is comprised of national operators, including Air Evac Lifeteam, Guardian Flight, Med-Trans Corp., and REACH Air Medical Services. These four operators fly from 320 bases in 38 states. It sells one to five-year memberships at prices ranging from $65 to $395, with seniors receiving a significant discount. AirMed said the memberships provide “peace of mind,” a message that resonates with buyers leery of receiving huge medevac bills. �