The AAA honors Congressman Greg Walden for his continued support of ambulance service agencies in Eastern Oregon and the communities which they serve
 
May 5, 2010 - WASHINGTON, DC - The American Ambulance Association (AAA) has recognized Congressman Greg Walden with its 2010 Legislative Recognition Award. This is the second year that the AAA has bestowed the award on the Congressman. The AAA “Stars of Life” and ambulance service agency leaders from Oregon presented Congressman Walden with the award during a ceremony in his Capitol Hill office on Tuesday, May 4.

The AAA is once again recognizing Congressman Walden for his efforts to ensure that ambulance service agencies in Eastern Oregon and around the country have the resources necessary to continue to provide critical emergency and non-emergency ambulance services. “Medicare reimburses ambulance service agencies below our costs of providing vital health care services to Medicare patients, especially in extremely rural areas of Oregon” says Shawn Baird, President of the Oregon Ambulance Association. “Congressman Walden understands the problem and has continually helped lead or support efforts for additional Medicare funding for ambulance services.”

“I am honored to be presented with the award from the “Stars of Life” from Oregon who are paramedics, EMTs and other emergency medical service personnel who provide life-saving care on a daily basis,” stated Congressman Walden. “It is imperative that they have the proper resources to provide high-quality health care services. Medicare therefore needs to reimburse ambulance service agencies fairly so EMS can continue to answer calls for help no matter the day, hour or patient’s location.”

Last Congress, Congressman Walden cosponsored the Medicare Ambulance Payment Extension Act and joined with Senator Wyden to introduce the Health Care Access and Rural Equity Act in the House and Senate. Both of these bills would provide additional Medicare funding for ambulance services. This year, Congressman Walden helped spearhead a letter from the House Rural Health Care Coalition to House Democratic and Republican leaders on the need for additional funding for rural Medicare providers including ambulance service agencies.

“Simply put, Congressman Walden strives to ensure that the people of Eastern Oregon have the best health care possible,” says Ken Parsons of Mercy Flights, which provides emergency ground and air ambulance services to Medford and surrounding portions of Jackson County.

About the American Ambulance Association (AAA)
The American Ambulance Association is the primary national trade association for providers of emergency and non-emergency ambulance services. The AAA is comprised of more than 600 ambulance service operations which account for providing services to over 75% of the U.S. population. AAA members include private, public, fire-based, hospital-based and volunteer ambulance service providers serving urban, suburban and rural areas. The AAA was formed in 1979 in response to the need for improvements in medical transportation and emergency medical services. For more information about the AAA, visit www.the-aaa.org.