S. 1643 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, May 7, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExtends higher pay rates for rural ambulances
This bill keeps a special higher payment rate for ground ambulance services in rural areas through the start of 2028. Between October 2025 and January 2028, ambulance services in these areas would get an even bigger rate increase from Medicare, the federal health program for seniors and some others.
How it affects you
If you live in a rural area and need an ambulance, this could help ensure those services stay available in your community. Ambulance providers in rural regions would receive more stable and predictable payments from Medicare, which may support their ability to continue operating in areas where it's harder to run a profitable business.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, May 7, 2025)
Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2025
This bill extends a specialized rate increase for Medicare payment of ground ambulance services in rural areas until January 1, 2028, and provides for a higher rate increase for services furnished between October 1, 2025, and January 1, 2028.
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 SessionS. 1643
A BILL
Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) · Introduced May 7, 2025 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 7, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.”