S. 3145 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Nov 6, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryMedicare to pay for ambulances that don't transport
Right now, Medicare only pays for ambulance rides when someone actually gets transported to a hospital or care facility. This bill would test a new approach for five years where Medicare would also pay for ambulance services that respond to emergency calls but don't end up transporting the patient. The payment would generally be the same as it is for regular ambulance transports.
How it affects you
If you're on Medicare and live in an area where this test runs, you could receive ambulance care and assessment at the scene of an emergency without worrying that Medicare won't cover it just because you weren't transported. This could affect how emergency services work in your community, though the official summary doesn't specify which areas would be included in the test.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Nov 6, 2025)
Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies Act of 2025 or the CARE Act of 2025
This bill requires the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a five-year model that provides for Medicare payment for ground ambulance services that do not result in the transport of the patient.
Under the model, Medicare payment may be furnished for ground ambulance services when an ambulance is dispatched in response to an emergency medical call but the ambulance does not end up transporting the patient. Payment rates under the model must generally align with the payment rates that apply when there is an actual transport.
The Government Accountability Office must report on the general access of Medicare beneficiaries to emergency medical services, including the impact of the model on beneficiary access and outcomes.
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. 3145
A BILL
CARE Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Susan M. Collins (R-ME) · Introduced Nov 6, 2025 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Nov 6, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7964)”
In the news
Updated Oct 13, 2026Stories from the last 14 days that name this bill (“CARE Act of 2025” or its number), from the public news feeds of national outlets across the political spectrum. Newest first, one per outlet. We don’t choose, rank or check the coverage.