Relief from Surprise Ambulance Bills May Be on the Horizon

In an emergency, many Americans hesitate to call 911 because they’re concerned about the cost of an ambulance ride. Ambulance rides are often out of the insurance network and can leave patients with thousands of dollars in unexpected costs. Now, a new proposal aims to change that.

According to Axios, patient advocates and others are asking Congress to close the loophole in current surprise billing laws that exempt ground ambulance services.

While the No Surprises Act, passed in 2020, addressed most forms of unexpected medical billing, it left out ground ambulance services. The new plan seeks to offer much-needed relief by capping ambulance bills and requiring more transparency. One suggestion by advisers is a $100 cap on patient costs of ambulance rides if they’re out-of-network.

“It’s very exciting to see that there’s a chance to get the patient out of this uncomfortable spot in the middle between us and their insurer,” said Shawn Baird, an advisory committee member and CEO of Metro West Ambulance.

Would you be more likely to call for an ambulance if you knew your bill would be manageable? Share your thoughts and experiences with us here.