Political Quotes

“I rise to encourage support for the Hoeven-Tester air ambulance relief amendment, which is legislation of importance to people living in both rural and urban communities who need urgent and timely medical care. The need for this amendment arises from the fact that Federal law preempts States from regulating air ambulance services pursuant to the Airline Deregulation Act, which was passed in 1979. While some air ambulance providers enter into agreements with insurers, a growing number have decided to operate as out-of-network providers and practice what is known as balance billing. That means consumers, not the insurance companies, are responsible for the majority of the medical bill. In recent years, State insurance departments have been fielding consumer complaints related to large balances left to them from charges not covered by insurance providers for air ambulance services. Patients in need of lifesaving air medical services have been left with balances of more than $25,000 when an air medical provider opts out of agreements with insurance providers. Let me share a couple of examples of what I am talking about with my colleagues. In one case, a young couple had a premature child who was in need of intensive care at another hospital. The couple was insured and assumed that the 1-hour helicopter flight to the other hospital was covered by their insurance.…”