I
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2454
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 12, 2021
Ms. Sewell (for herself, Mr. Nunes, Mr. Welch, and Mr. Mullin) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII to strengthen ambulance services furnished under part B of the Medicare program.
Short title; table of contents
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2021
.
Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Title I—Protect Access to High-Quality Ambulance Care
Sec. 101. Protecting patient access to ground ambulance services.
Title II—Protect Access to Ground Ambulance Services in Rural America
Sec. 201. Protecting access to ambulance services in rural and low population density areas.
Protect Access to High-Quality Ambulance Care
Protecting patient access to ground ambulance services
Section 1834(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)) is amended—
in paragraph (12)(A), by striking 2023
and inserting 2028
; and
in paragraph (13)(A), by striking 2023
each place it appears and inserting 2028
in each such place.
Protect Access to Ground Ambulance Services in Rural America
Protecting access to ambulance services in rural and low population density areas
Section 1834(l)(12) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)(12)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
Exception for rural and qualified rural areas
The Secretary shall deem an area designated as a rural or qualified rural area under this paragraph that would otherwise no longer receive such designation to retain its previous designated status if there are 1,000 or fewer individuals per square mile in the area.
Right to appeal rural areas and qualified rural areas
The Secretary shall establish an administrative appeals process to allow ambulance services providers and suppliers to seek reconsideration of a change in a ZIP code’s status as a rural or qualified rural area during the first 12 months after the Secretary finalizes a change in the designation made under this paragraph.
.