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Contact: Kelly Lanier
228-897-7002
kelly.lanier@amr.net
AMR APPLAUDS LOTT, PICKERING FOR LEADING MEDICARE AMBULANCE REFORM
GULFPORT, MS, May 31,
2005– American Medical Response (AMR), the nation's largest ambulance company, today commended Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss) and Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss) for introducing the Medicare Ambulance Payment Reform and Rural Equity Act to the Senate and House.
The bills, S.1109 in the Senate and H.R. 2014 in the House, would provide ambulance services nationwide with permanent Medicare funding to replace temporary funding which will soon expire. The bills seek increased Medicare reimbursement to rural ambulance services so that the level of pre-hospital healthcare in rural areas will equal the level in urban areas.
The bill would help the nation's ambulance services fight a federal plan that keeps Medicare funding below the cost of providing service. According to a study independent of the ambulance industry, Medicare pays, on average nationwide, 27 percent less than the costs to provide ambulance service to Medicare beneficiaries. For nearly all ambulance services across the US , Medicare is by far the single largest source of operating funds.
Steve Delahousey, Vice President for AMR's Gulfport-based South Central Division, said, "Our company, in conjunction with the American Ambulance Association, have been working for some time with members of Congress on this important legislation. I was indeed thrilled when Senator Lott and Congressman Pickering agreed to introduce these bills. As a life-time resident of Mississippi with nearly 30 years in the ambulance field, I find their leadership encouraging and I am grateful for their support of our vital services."
Bob Garner, President of the American Ambulance Association, said, "Senator Lott and Representative Pickering's initiative gives us hope that fair and equitable Medicare reimbursement for ambulance service will become reality. Without these reforms, communities may see cutbacks or stagnation among their ambulance services. I do not believe the Medicare reductions that occurred as a result of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 were intended to reduce the level of pre-hospital medical care. These reforms will allow more rural ambulance services to offer the same advanced care that urban ambulance services provide."
Delahousey said, "If you suffer a heart attack, or worse, a sudden cardiac arrest, a paramedic can administer life-saving medications and other therapies that other emergency medical technicians cannot. Here in Mississippi , AMR provides strictly advanced life support or ALS, which is the highest the highest standard of ambulance service. That means AMR provides a paramedic and advanced equipment on every ambulance response. Not all ambulance companies statewide, especially those in rural areas, can afford that level of care. These bills will help ambulance companies pay for paramedics and equipment that literally make difference between life or death for some patients."
AMR and other firms in the ambulance field are seeking additional bill co-sponsors. Currently, Senator Lott is joined by original co-sponsors Senators Mark Dayton (D-MN), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Charles Schumer (D-NY), James Jeffords (I-VT), Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT). Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss) signed on as a bill co-sponsor last week.
Congressman Pickering, as well as Representatives Tom Reynolds (R-NY) and Tom Allen (D-ME) have introduced the identical House version of the bill. Representatives Gene Taylor (D-MS), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) have also agreed to sponsor the House bill.
"It's a proud day for Mississippi ," Delahousey said, adding, "We have 100% bipartisan support from our Mississippi congressmen and senators. This bill is critical to every community nationwide and our Mississippi delegation is leading the way."
AMR is the busiest ambulance service in Mississippi . Serving Adams, Harrison, Hancock, Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties, AMR transports about one of every four ambulance patients in the state.
American Medical Response,( www.amr.net ) America 's largest provider of medical transportation, is locally operated in 34 states. More than 17,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs and other professionals transport over four million patients nationwide each year in emergency, critical and non-emergency situations. Operating a fleet of Approximately 4,000 vehicles, AMR is headquarted in Greenwood Village, CO.
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