Air ambulances save lives. When a health emergency strikes, doctors or first responders call upon air ambulances to transport patients to the closest, most appropriate hospital quickly so they can get the care they need. In most cases, the patient is unable to choose how they are transported, and, in every case, the air ambulance goes when it is called.

But there’s the problem. If the patient has private insurance, this can sometimes lead to a massive uncovered bill. Getting a balance bill after a medical event can be stressful and scary. But some of the proposed solutions to addressing balance billing, particularly for the air ambulance industry, don’t tackle the root cause of these bills. In some cases, they could adversely impact Americans’ ability to access life-saving care. Congress must find a solution that protects access to emergency air ambulance services and takes patients out of the middle.