Congressman August Pfluger (R) has introduced bipartisan legislation to update Medicare's ambulance reimbursement system by requiring payment rates to reflect current operating costs, a change supporters say is critical to protecting emergency medical services in rural communities.
Pfluger Introduces the RESCUE Act
Rep. Pfluger has introduced the Reimbursing Emergency Services for Critical Urgent Encounters (RESCUE) Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at modernizing Medicare's reimbursement system for ambulance services.
The bill would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to update Medicare's ambulance fee schedules every three years using current cost data rather than relying on outdated figures.
According to Pfluger's office, Medicare's current ambulance fee schedule has not been updated since 2002 and is still based on cost data collected in 1998, despite significant increases in operating expenses.
Addressing rising EMS costs
Supporters of the legislation say ambulance providers continue to face rising costs for:
- Fuel.
- Medical equipment.
- Staffing.
- Ambulance vehicles.
- Maintaining emergency response readiness.
The RESCUE Act would require CMS to regularly revise reimbursement rates to better reflect the actual costs of providing emergency medical transportation.
Rural communities depend on EMS.
Pfluger said the legislation is especially important for rural communities, where financial challenges can threaten access to emergency medical care.
Rep. August Pfluger: "EMS providers and first responders show up for our communities every single day, often in the most difficult moments imaginable, and they deserve a Medicare system that shows up for them in return."
He added that updating reimbursement rates could help prevent rural ambulance providers from closing because of funding shortfalls.
Bipartisan support
The RESCUE Act is co-led by:
- Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI)
- Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX)
- Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA)
- John Joyce (R-PA)
- Brad Schneider (D-IL)
- Claudia Tenney (R-NY)
- Terri Sewell (D-AL)
The Bottom Line
Rep. Pfluger's bipartisan RESCUE Act would require Medicare to update ambulance reimbursement rates every three years using current cost data, a move supporters say will strengthen EMS providers and help preserve emergency medical services, particularly in rural communities.
