posted August 14, 2025

Visit Highlights Importance of Air Medical Services in Rural Care

GETTYSBURG, PA – Aug. 14, 2025 – On Monday, U.S. Rep. John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA-13) visited the WellSpan WellFlight base in Gettysburg to learn firsthand how emergency air medical services are saving lives across south-central Pennsylvania, particularly in rural communities where access to immediate critical care can be limited.

“When residents of rural communities face life-threatening emergencies, time is absolutely of the essence,” said Rep. John Joyce, M.D. “The team at the WellSpan WellFlight base in Gettysburg provides critical air medical services that make it possible for rural patients to get the care they need in a timely manner. I appreciated the opportunity to tour their facility and thank this incredible team for their commitment to our communities.”

During his visit, Rep. Joyce toured a WellFlight helicopter and spoke with the team about their operations, challenges, and the lifesaving tools they bring directly to the scene. The crew showcased their advanced medical equipment—including the addition of the AutoPulse NXT device for cardiac patients and the units of blood carried onboard for transfusions in the field—emphasizing the impact of early intervention on survival rates.

Conversations also centered around the challenges of current Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates. Emergency air providers are currently reimbursed less than 60% of their actual costs for Medicare patients, a rate that has not been adjusted in more than two decades. For companies like Air Methods, the parent company of WellFlight, serving a high volume of Medicare and Medicaid patients (roughly 65% of total transports), this imbalance threatens long-term sustainability, particularly in rural communities.

“We partner with many rural hospitals that simply don’t have the resources or aviation capabilities to transport patients to higher-level care,” said Carolyn Mayle, Vice President of Governmental Affairs at Air Methods. “We fill those gaps, but we lose money on every flight involving a Medicare or Medicaid patient.”

The conversation around reimbursement is timely as the Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act (S. 2518/HR 4792) was recently introduced by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and U.S. Reps. Ron Estes (R-KS-4) and Suzan Delbene (D-WA-1), which would update Medicare reimbursement rates based on actual cost and utilization data.

“We hope this experience gave Representative Joyce a deeper understanding of the profound impact our teams have on his constituents and surrounding communities,” said Joel Atwell, WellFlight area manager. “We are grateful for his support and interest in our mission to save lives.”

WellFlight’s air medical teams consist of highly trained pilots, flight nurses, and flight paramedics who deliver the highest level of care in emergencies, playing a crucial role in both rural and urban areas where timely medical intervention can be a matter of life and death.