The Association of Air Medical Services thanks the Department of Health and Human Services for its report on surprise medical billing, and the significant negative impact this issue has on patients already experiencing a serious illness or injury. The report fails to indicate the extent to which healthcare providers go to shield patients previously in their care from these billing disputes, including repeated attempts to go in-network with insurers. The report also fails to discuss the inability of healthcare providers to remove the patient from the middle and negotiate directly with insurers in the out-of-network environment. AAMS actively supports providing opportunities for direct negotiations with insurers that preserves this essential emergency service and supports the patients we serve.

During our current public health emergency, in which air medical services have transported over 10,000 of the most critically ill coronavirus patients, we urge legislators and policy makers to support solutions that put patients, and their access to critical healthcare resources, first.

Established in 1980, the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) is an international trade association headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area. AAMS is a non-profit 501C(6) trade association that represents and advocates on behalf of the critical care transport industry to enhance their ability to deliver quality, safe, and effective medical care and medical transportation for every patient in-need.