,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bhab ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #aj1 #bjah ,mrs4 ,mc,caskill introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to improve consumer protections for customers of air ambulance operators1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,air ,ambulance ,consumer ,protection ,act4 #b4 ,advisory committee for transparency in air ambulance industry 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall establish an advisory committee to make recommendations for a rulemaking-- 7#a7 to require air ambulance operators to clearly disclose charges for air transportation services separately from charges for non-air transportation services within any invoice or bill2 and 7#b7 to provide other consumer protections for customers of air ambulance operators4 7b7 ,composition of the advisory committee ,the advisory committee shall be composed of the following members3 7#a7 ,the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7#b7 ,one representative1 to be appointed by the ,secretary1 of each of the following3 7,a7 ,each relevant ,federal agency1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,state insurance regulators4 7,c7 ,health insurance providers4 7,d7 ,consumer groups4 7#c7 ,three representatives1 to be appointed by the ,secretary1 to represent the various segments of the air ambulance industry4 7c7 ,recommendations ,the advisory committee shall make recommendations with respect to each of the following3 7#a7 ,cost-allocation methodologies needed to ensure that charges for air transportation services are separated from charges for non-air transportation services4 7#b7 ,cost- or price-allocation methodologies to prevent commingling of charges for air transportation services and charges for non-air transportation services in bills and invoices4 7#c7 ,formats for bills and invoices to ensure that customers and ,state insurance regulators can clearly distinguish between charges for air transportation services and charges for non-air transportation services4 7#d7 ,data or industry references related to aircraft operating costs to be used in determining the proper allocation of charges for air transportation services and charges for non-air transportation services4 7#e7 ,guidance materials to instruct ,states1 political subdivisions of ,states1 and political authorities of #b or more ,states on referring to the ,secretary allegations of unfair or deceptive practices or unfair methods of competition by air ambulance operators4 7#f7 ,protections for customers of air ambulance operators1 after consideration of the circumstances in which the services of air ambulance operators are used4 7#g7 ,protections of proprietary cost data from inappropriate public disclosure4 7#h7 ,such other matters as the ,secretary determines necessary or appropriate4 7d7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the first meeting of the advisory committee1 the advisory committee shall submit to the ,secretary1 the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives1 and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate a report containing the recommendations made under subsection 7c74 7e7 ,rulemaking ,not later than #ahj days after the date of receipt of the report under subsection 7d71 the ,secretary shall consider the recommendations of the advisory committee and issue a final rule-- 7#a7 to require air ambulance operators to clearly disclose charges for air transportation services separately from charges for non-air transportation services within any invoice or bill2 and 7#b7 to provide other consumer protections for customers of air ambulance operators4 7f7 ,definitions ,in this section1 the following definitions apply3 7#a7 ,air ambulance operator ,the term air ambulance operator means an air carrier operating pursuant to part #ace of title #ad1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 that provides medical1 ambulance1 or related services4 7#b7 ,non-air transportation services ,the term non-air transportation services means those services provided by air ambulance operators but not other air carriers operating pursuant to part #ace of title #ad1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations4 7g7 ,termination ,the advisory committee shall terminate on the date of submission of the report under subsection 7d74 7h7 ,nature of air ambulance services ,the non-air transportation services of air ambulance operators and prices thereof are neither services nor prices of an air carrier for purposes of section #dagac of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code4 #c4 ,air ambulance complaints 7a7 ,consumer complaints ,section #dbcjb of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7 by inserting 7including transportation by air ambulance7 after air transportation2 7#b7 in subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 by inserting 1 and an air ambulance operator1 after passenger seats2 and 7ii7 by inserting or operator after ,internet ,web site of the carrier2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b7 by inserting or operator after mailing address of the air carrier2 and 7#c7 by striking subsection 7c7 and inserting the following3 7c7 ,notice to passengers on boarding or billing documentation 7#a7 ,air carriers and foreign air carriers ,an air carrier or foreign air carrier providing scheduled air transportation using any aircraft that as originally designed has a passenger capacity of #cj or more passenger seats shall include the hotline telephone number established under subsection 7a7 on-- 7,a7 prominently displayed signs of the carrier at the airport ticket counters in the ,united ,states where the air carrier operates2 and 7,b7 any electronic confirmation of the purchase of a passenger ticket for air transportation issued by the air carrier4 7#b7 ,air ambulance operators ,an air ambulance operator shall include the hotline telephone number established under subsection 7a7 on any invoice1 bill1 or other communication provided to a passenger or customer of the operator4 4 7b7 ,unfair and deceptive practices and unfair methods of competition ,section #dagab7;a7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by inserting air ambulance customer1 after foreign air carrier1 the first place it appears2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 ,in this subsection1 the term air carrier includes an air ambulance operator and the term air transportation includes any transportation provided by an air ambulance44