AAA Government Affairs E-Update

March 10, 2010

1. Senate Passes Medicare Ambulance Relief Extensions

2. Cosponsors of Permanent Medicare Ambulance Relief Bills

1. Senate Passes Medicare Ambulance Relief Extensions

Earlier today, the United States Senate passed Medicare ambulance relief extensions as part of the Tax Extenders Act of 2009 (H.R. 4213).   The Senate passed H.R. 4213 by a vote of 62 to 36.   To determine how your Senators voted, please go to: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00048

The Tax Extenders Act would extend the temporary 2% urban and 3% rural increases and the super rural bonus payments under the Medicare ambulance fee schedule.   The extension would be retroactive to January 1, 2010 and expire on December 31, 2010.   The bill will now be referred to the U.S. House of Representatives where the Democratic Leadership will determine whether to pass the Senate bill or request a conference with the Senate to resolve differences with the bill passed by the House.   The House-passed bill focused on tax and other incentive extenders and did not include Medicare provider relief extensions.

2. Cosponsors of Permanent Medicare Ambulance Relief Bills

The Medicare Ambulance Access Preservation Act (MAAPA) was introduced in the Senate by Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and in the House by Congressmen Richard Neal (D-MA) and Fred Upton (R-MI).   MAAPA would provide a permanent 6% Medicare increase for transports originating in an urban or rural area and permanently extend the bonus base payment of 22.6% for transports originating in super rural areas.   The AAA is currently pushing for extensions of current Medicare ambulance relief as well as encouraging Members of Congress to cosponsor MAAPA.

Current Cosponsors of the MAAPA

Below is a list, current as of today, of members of Congress who have officially been added as cosponsors to MAAPA.

AL : Sen. Jeff Sessions

AR: Sen. Blanche Lincoln, Sen. Mark Pryor

CA: Rep. Devin Nunes

CT: Rep. Rosa DeLauro: Rep. Chris Murphy

GA: Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Sen. Johnny Isakson

IA: Sen. Tom Harkin

KS: Sen. Pat Roberts

LA: Sen. Mary Landrieu

ME: Sen. Susan Collins, Rep. Michael Michaud

MP: Del. Gregorio Sablan

MA: Sen. John Kerry, Rep. Richard Neal, Rep. James McGovern

MI: Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Rep. Fred Upton, Rep. Dale Kildee, Rep. Bart Stupak, Rep. Mark Schauer

MN: Sen. Amy Klobuchar

MS: Sen. Thad Cochran

MO: Sen. Kit Bond

MT: Sen. Jon Tester

NV: Rep. Shelley Berkley

NJ: Sen. Frank Lautenberg, Rep. Steven Rothman, Rep. Albio Sires

NY: Sen. Charles Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Paul Tonko

NH: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

ND: Sen. Kent Conrad, Sen. Byron Dorgan

OH: Rep. Patrick Tiberi

OR: Rep. Peter DeFazio

PA: Rep. Jim Gerlach, Rep. Tim Murphy, Rep. Tim Holden

RI: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rep. James Langevin

SD: Rep. Stephanie Sandlin Herseth

VT: Sen. Patrick Leahy, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Peter Welch

WA: Rep. Doc Hastings

WV: Rep. Nick Rahall

Reproduced with permission from the AAA.