Air ambulances are often the only lifeline between life and death in rural America. Yet the very system patients depend on is at risk of collapse, squeezed by a Medicare reimbursement model that hasn’t kept pace with reality in more than 20 years. A long-awaited report just released to Congress should motivate lawmakers to solve this problem or risk jeopardizing the sustainability of air medical operations.

Across the U.S., air medical services maintain 24/7 readiness while on tight margins with high fixed costs. Each aircraft requires specialized equipment onboard, advanced aviation technology, routine training, and ongoing compliance and regulatory costs.