There is no single “governing body” over medEvac services. Each service is independent, or could be part of a group of similar programs. There are however, several agencies that may have licensing or over sight for medEvac services. For the aviation components, medEvac services must adhere to rules and regulations established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). They are also subject to periodic inspections by the FAA.
Minimal standards for reimbursement and/or licensing could also be established by third party payers (Medicare, Medicaid, managed care organizations) or by local legislation (state, county or city laws). Most states have minimum licensing requirements for medEvac personnel and the service.
In addition, medEvac services may also follow national or regional standards. For those services that are hospital based, if the hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHCO) or other such organizations, such as the American College of Surgeons for trauma verification, the medEvac service must also meet those minimum standards.
