This DRAFT report is scheduled to be introduced this month to the TN Advisroy Commission on Intergovernmental Relation. This report summarizes and provides recommendations for improving Tennessee's Ambulance Services through increased funding, colaberation and training.

2026June - Ambulance_ReportDRAFT

DEA Ambulance Registration

Tell Us About Your Experience

The final rule for ambulance service DEA registration has now been in effect for more than 90 days. AAA members in some states report being unable to register, while others have been told that their hospital supplier plans to stop distributing scheduled drugs now that ambulance services can register independently.

Implementation has been inconsistent across states. The AAA Government Affairs Team would greatly appreciate you taking a moment to complete this brief, five-question survey and let us know whether your service has attempted to register as an agency under the new regulations.

We want to hear from agencies that encountered challenges as well as those that successfully registered so we can better assess implementation issues and identify solutions to any barriers services may be facing. Please share your experience before Friday, June 12. 

Thank you for taking a couple of minutes to complete the survey.

TAKE THE SURVEY

TASA is monitoring the progress of the EMS grants from the TN Rural Health Transformation Program. At this time we do not have specific details. We have been advised that there will be a packet coming out over the next week or so with the process/procedure for participating in the $300,000.00 ambulance purchase initiative.

There are a lot of inaccurate messages being shared around the state on this issue, but we caution providers to wait until the official documentation is made available.

CTAS has issued a general overview about the program () but again, there are no specific details at this time.

The Medicare ambulance add-on payment extension is now official. President Trump has signed the 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 7148) into law, securing a 23-month extension through December 31, 2027. The legislation continues the 2% urban, 3% rural, and 22.6% super-rural increases to the ambulance fee schedule, providing much-needed stability for EMS providers nationwide. Previously, the temporary add-ons had been extended through January 30, 2026, allowing Congress time to enact a longer-term solution. During this period, AAA members actively engaged with lawmakers, submitting comment letters and advocacy support to ensure EMS priorities were represented.

The Senate approved the Consolidated Appropriations Act package on January 30, and the House passed it by a narrow 217-214 vote, finalizing the 23-month extension. Although there was a brief three-day lapse in the temporary add-ons, the mandatory Medicare claims hold period of ten days ensures there should be no disruption in payments. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this extension will provide $197 million in continued relief to ground ambulance service organizations.

The legislation also includes report language directing the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to make addressing EMS workforce shortages a priority. H.R. 7148 primarily funds HHS and four other federal agencies through the end of FY2026, while DHS funding is extended through February 13, resolving the recent partial government shutdown.