Sen. McCaskill Issues Statement on Air Ambulance, Health Insurance Providers Agreement

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- The office of Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, issued the following statement after an agreement by air ambulance provider Air Methods and health insurer Anthem to provide Anthem consumers with access to Air Methods' emergency medical services as part of their in-network health coverage benefits:

"It's absurd to expect consumers to worry about price-shopping and in-network services when they need an air ambulance.

"This announcement is a step in the right direction, and I strongly urge other air ambulance providers and health insurers to follow suit to make sure Missourians have affordable access to these life-saving services without having to worry about an astronomical bill after the fact."

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McCaskill had previously called for answers from health insurers and air ambulance providers and introduced legislation that would bring more accountability to the industry.

The companies' agreement is effective as of August 15, 2018 and covers consumers who are enrolled in Anthem affiliated health plans in Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.

McCaskill's Air Ambulance Consumer Protection Act would clarify that states are not prohibited by the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 from regulating the medical costs associated with air ambulance service. Additionally, McCaskill's legislation would provide consumers with a complaint hotline that commercial aviation customers have, as well as establish an advisory committee to produce recommendations for the industry, including greater transparency in billing practices, new consumer protections, and clear guidance for State insurance commissioners on how to dispute unfair or deceptive industry practices on behalf of consumers.

Following recent reports of families left with tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills from air ambulance services after a traumatic injury--of which health insurance companies sometimes only cover a fraction of the costs--McCaskill requested documents and demanded answers from the leading insurance providers and air ambulance companies in Missouri to better understand industry practices and the impacts they have on Missouri consumers.