The air ambulance industry has been in the headlines for quite some time now. Most recently, however, it was because the state of Wyoming was attempting to regulate it. The hurdle was (and is) a federal regulation that prohibits state governments from interfering in the affairs of air ambulance industry. However, the attempts were rejected by CMS. Wyoming had proposed that the states must be allowed a say in the matters of air ambulance industry. It had done so to keep the cost of medical flight services at bay as they have been getting steeply expensive recently.
Does this Mean the Air Ambulance Industry has Won?
The answer is “yes.” At least for now, the air ambulance industry seems to have won. The CMS verdict favors the medical flight service providers. They will not be subjected to any state control and will be free to fly across state borders and also charge the consumers what they feel is the right amount.
The industry had feared that if they are forced to come under insurance networks, they will then have to conform to the reimbursement rates that are set by the insurance organizations. This was especially worrying since the rates have not been revised in over a decade. Moreover, since bidding system to offer services for a particular state would have come into picture, there were high chances that some insurance companies would have gone out of business.
What does it Mean for Consumers?
Consumers will now have access to a wide range of air ambulance companies. This means they will be able to avail specialized medical flights during emergencies. Since the profitability will remain unchanged, the air ambulance industry would find it financially encouraging extending their reach to remotest parts of the country. There, however, is one drawback. Since insurance companies have not still revised their reimbursement rates, the consumers are at risk of high out-of-pocket expenses.
