Wyoming to seek Medicaid waiver for air ambulance costs

The Wyoming Department of Health plans to submit an 1115 waiver application that would expand Medicaid coverage to all Wyoming residents for the specific and sole benefit of air ambulance transportation. Under the proposal, Wyoming Medicaid would develop broad requirements for statewide ambulance service and set clear and transparent cost-sharing for patients on a sliding-fee scale. Last week, leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee urged the Department of Transportation to create an advisory committee to protect consumers from balance billing for air ambulance transports. A recent Health Affairs study found that air ambulances charged an average four to 10 times what Medicare paid for their services in 2016. The AHA supports addressing air ambulances in a federal solution to end surprise medical bills.