North Dakota is breaking new ground in its efforts to regulate air ambulance prices, which can total in the thousands and are usually not substantially covered by insurance providers.

1. North Dakota's Air Ambulance
Regulations Face Court Challenge
By Shahram Shirkhani

2. Air Ambulance Flight
Regulation
● North Dakota is breaking new ground in its
efforts to regulate air ambulance prices,
which can total in the thousands and are
usually not substantially covered by
insurance providers.

3. ● A new law requires a “primary call list” of air
ambulance services that qualify as providers
with insurance carriers, to be referenced by
law enforcement officials and others who
summon air ambulances.
● The law also creates service zones for
helicopter ambulances and requires
emergency response officials to make a
reasonable effort to inform patients of the
response times of ground and air transport.
The Law

4. Challenges
● The new law is already facing a legal challenge. North
Dakota Senator Judy Lee, who sponsored the law, noted
the need to protect patients from exorbitant air
ambulance costs.
● A lawsuit filed by Valley Air Med, however, states that
North Dakota’s new law illegally usurps federal
regulations. Valley Air Med argues that the Airline
Deregulation Act stipulates that states cannot interfere
in regulating air ambulance flights. The state of North
Dakota has not yet responded to the lawsuit.