[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 79 (Tuesday, May 7, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3551-S3552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2021. Mr. BENNET (for himself and Mrs. Blackburn) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1911 proposed by Ms. 
Cantwell (for herself, Mr. Cruz, Ms. Duckworth, and Mr. Moran) to the 
bill H.R. 3935, to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize 
and improve the Federal Aviation Administration and other civil 
aviation programs, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

[[Page S3552]]

  


     SEC. __. IMPROVEMENTS TO MEDICARE PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR AIR 
                   AMBULANCE SERVICES.

       Section 1834(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1395m(l)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(18) Improvements to medicare payment system for air 
     ambulance services.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may revise the fee 
     schedule otherwise established under this subsection for air 
     ambulance services based on data described in subparagraph 
     (B) and data collected under subparagraph (C).
       ``(B) Data described.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), 
     the data described in this subparagraph is data collected 
     pursuant to the provisions of, and amendments made by, 
     section 106 of division BB of the Consolidated Appropriations 
     Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260).
       ``(C) Additional data collection.--The Secretary shall 
     require, once every 3 years, providers of services and 
     suppliers furnishing air ambulance services to submit to the 
     Secretary--
       ``(i) data relating to the fixed and operated costs per air 
     ambulance base attributable to furnishing air ambulance 
     services to individuals enrolled under this part and data 
     relating to the utilization of such services by such 
     individuals;
       ``(ii) data relating to the revenue obtained by such 
     providers and suppliers under this part attributable to the 
     furnishing of such services; and
       ``(iii) any other information determined appropriate by the 
     Secretary.
       ``(D) Consultation.--In the case that the Secretary elects 
     to revise the fee schedule for air ambulance services under 
     subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consider stakeholder 
     input in a process that is transparent and appropriately 
     considers data described in subparagraph (B) and data 
     collected under subparagraph (C).''.

     SEC. __. GAO STUDY ON EMERGENCY AIR AMBULANCE COSTS.

       Not later than 1 year after the date on which data begins 
     to be collected pursuant to the provisions of, and amendments 
     made by, section 106 of division BB of the Consolidated 
     Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260), the 
     Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the 
     Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways 
     and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
     House of Representatives, a report detailing--
       (1) the average annual operating costs per air ambulance 
     base;
       (2) the average cost per transport by air ambulance;
       (3) the payor mix for air ambulance services;
       (4) the adequacy of Medicare payments for such services;
       (5) geographic variations in the cost of furnishing such 
     services; and
       (6) recommendations on improving the fee schedule under 
     section 1834(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1395m(l)) for air ambulance services.
                                 ______