CARE Act (Ground Ambulance Non-Transport Payment)
Current understanding
The CARE Act of 2025 would direct the CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) to test a five-year Medicare payment model reimbursing ground ambulance providers for emergency dispatches that do not result in patient transport, with payment rates generally aligned to transport rates. It also directs GAO to report on beneficiary EMS access and the model’s impacts. Status: introduced.
Evidence log
- 2025-04-01 — CARE Act of 2025: cross-connection with community-paramedicine-program: Both address Medicare payment for EMS/paramedic services delivered outside traditional transport-to-hospital pathways. (novelty: 3)