Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Montana Lawmakers Urge Federal Action On Air Ambulance Costs

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Montana capitol.
William Marcus

Montana Legislators are sending a letter to their U.S. congressional delegation urging for changes in federal aviation laws. Montana’s Economic Affairs Interim Committee voted today to send a letter asking Senators Tester and Daines and Congressman Zinke to revise the federal Airline Deregulation Act in order to protect patients from crippling air ambulance bills.

This vote comes a day after the committee listened to industry and insurance companies disagree over why patients are being handed giant bills, even when they have health insurance.

Committee Chairman Ryan Lynch says patients are being hurt as businesses argue over money.

“Until we can get some resolution to this issue, constituents are going to continue to call and families are going to continue to be devastated. And that is not how we do business in Montana.”

The committee’s letter says current regulations may be too loose around the air ambulance industry and actions in the U.S. Congress may “help to bring more sanity to this situation.”

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Corin Cates-Carney manages MTPR’s daily and long-term news projects. After spending more than five years living and reporting across Western and Central Montana, he became news director in early 2020.