H.R. 4792 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned, Jul 29, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryAdjusts Medicare payments for air ambulances
When someone needs emergency medical transport by helicopter or plane, Medicare (the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older) currently pays air ambulance providers a set rate. This bill lets Medicare adjust those payment rates based on actual cost data that providers and insurers report. It also requires air ambulance providers to give more detailed information to Medicare about their specific costs and how often they fly patients, and it asks an independent government agency to study the data and suggest whether payment rates should change.
How it affects you
If you're on Medicare and need an air ambulance, this could affect what you pay or what Medicare pays providers, depending on how rates get adjusted. Air ambulance providers will need to do more detailed reporting about their costs and Medicare flights. Most other people won't directly notice a change unless they rely on air ambulance services covered by Medicare.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jul 29, 2025)
Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025
This bill authorizes payment changes under Medicare for air ambulance services based on certain collected data and requires additional reporting from providers of these services.
Current law requires providers of air ambulance services to report certain information regarding general costs and utilization to the Department of Health and Human Services; private health insurers are also required to report information relating to coverage of these services. The bill authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to revise payment rates under Medicare for air ambulance services based on this data, and it requires providers of air ambulance services to specifically report information relating to costs and utilization under Medicare.
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the data that is collected under current law requirements and to recommend changes to Medicare payment rates accordingly.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 4792
A BILL
Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS-4) · Introduced Jul 29, 2025 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jul 29, 2025: “Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.”