Ambulance providers push for statutory rate floor, warning rural services face collapse

Summary

Ambulance services, fire chiefs and municipal officials urged the House Commerce Committee to adopt a statutory floor to replace balance billing, proposing 325% of Medicare for non‑contract transports to close revenue gaps; insurers and trade groups urged caution and further study, saying contracting and Medicaid implications need review.

Ambulance services, fire chiefs and municipal leaders told the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee that prohibiting out‑of‑network balance billing will leave a fiscal hole for ground ambulance providers unless the Legislature establishes a replacement revenue mechanism.

Several witnesses supported House Bill 7 25, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Stringham, which would extend the prohibition on balance billing to ground ambulance transports and establish a non‑contract payment standard — the bill’s sponsors proposed a 325% of Medicare benchmark for non‑contract ambulance claims. Proponents said that number would stabilize provider revenues and keep services running, particularly in rural areas, and would protect patients from surprise bills.

Rep. Stringham, a consultant on health reimbursement, told the committee the ambulance business model has “broken down,” and said the proposed statutory floor would…

Ambulance providers push for statutory rate floor, warning rural services face collapse

Summary

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