Calls to raise the alarm about rural emergency medical services have made it to the halls of Congress.

U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Howard Township) is one of five co-sponsors of a bill that makes changes to the Social Security Act to lock in funding increases for rural ambulance services.

It’s H.R. 1666 and is called the “Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act.”

“I understand the important role volunteer firefighters and EMS-trained personnel play in our community, as I served my community in both capacities before coming to Congress,” Thompson said in a recent newsletter. “While meeting with EMS personnel from across Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District, they expressed the challenges they are facing with staffing shortages as well as antiquated equipment.

“This legislation ensures our ambulance service providers have the means to continue the necessary emergency services to our community, which is incredibly important to rural communities like ours.”

The bill amends the section of the Social Security Act entitled “Assistance for rural providers furning services in low population density areas” and ensures a “percent increase in the base rate of the fee” for ambulance providers.

It extends the window for those increases through 2028.

Its prime sponsor is Rep. Brad Wenstrup (Oh.-2) and was introduced back in March, when it was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.

He said the bill, if enacted, “would help ambulance service providers continue delivering quality healthy care services and lifesaving medical assistance.

“When seconds are the difference between life and death, first responders arrive at the scene to provide life-saving care,” he said in a statement. “This bill delivers key reforms so that Americans, particularly those in rural and underserved communities, can access ground ambulance transportation, and their providers can rely on consistent reimbursement from Medicare. This bill would help keep ambulance costs affordable.”