American Ambulance Association

29/10/2025

28/10/2025

Today, we honor the courage, dedication, and selflessness of our nation’s first responders — paramedics, EMTs, dispatchers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and countless others. Thank you for being there when every second counts. 🚑🚓🚒

27/10/2025

Stars of Life local medal ceremonies continue! 🌟

Congratulations to Paramedic Gerardo Ramirez, who received his medal from his managing director in San Diego’s Historic Old Town, with his wife and daughters by his side.

27/10/2025

Mathew Matouk
Paramedic
Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Illinois
Elmhurst, IL
https://starsof.life/25matouk

Mathew Matouk serves as a Paramedic at Superior Air-Ground Ambulance in Illinois, where he is recognized for his clinical expertise, commitment to patient care, and dedication to mentoring new EMS professionals.

Mathew began his EMS journey in 2015 while attending culinary school. Seeking a career with greater purpose, he enrolled in the Emergency Medical Technician program at Joliet Junior College, later completing the Paramedic Program at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Illinois. In 2019, he expanded his emergency service credentials by earning his Firefighter II certification.

He joined Superior in July 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has continually advanced his training. In 2022, he completed the Critical Care Transport Paramedic Program at Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin. The following year, he became a Field Training Officer, where he assists Superior's education department with new-hire orientation, skills assessments, and training.

Mathew is being honored as a Star of Life for his life-saving actions during a roadside emergency. While off duty, he and his partner stopped to assist an unresponsive patient experiencing a drug overdose on the side of an expressway. Mathew immediately administered Narcan, secured the airway, and ensured the patient's safety until fire department EMS crews arrived to continue care. His swift intervention made the difference between life and death. In recognition of his exceptional performance, Mathew received the Top Performer Award at Superior's inaugural EMS Symposium in Rosemont, Illinois, in February 2025.

Outside of work, Mathew enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring new cuisines, and pursuing his passion for the arts. A drummer and theater enthusiast, he has even appeared as an extra in an episode of Chicago Fire. Looking ahead, he aspires to become a Registered Nurse and is a strong advocate for paramedic-to-RN bridge programs.

Superior Air-Ground Ambulance is proud to celebrate Mathew Matouk as a 2025 Star of Life.

24/10/2025

Another amazing local medal ceremony in the books. Congrats to Katelyn Roberts from REMSA Health!

24/10/2025

Congratulations to these 2025 Stars of Life from Acadian Ambulance! 🌟 We love seeing how organizations across the nation are celebrating their heroes locally with medal ceremonies honoring their lifesaving work and dedication to their communities.

23/10/2025

We’re honored that the American Ambulance Association Mentorship Program was recognized by Mentorloop as one of the 2025 Most Impactful Mentor Programs! 🎉 Grateful to our mentors, mentees, and program lead Samantha Hilker for fostering connections that strengthen leadership and empower the next generation of professionals.

22/10/2025

We appreciate Bloomberg Government for shining a light on how the federal government shutdown and the expiration of Medicare ambulance add-ons could impact providers nationwide.

American Ambulance Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tristan North joined other mobile healthcare leaders to highlight what’s at stake for ambulance services already operating on thin margins. The continuation of these vital Medicare add-ons—2% for urban, 3% for rural, and 22.6% for super-rural providers—is essential to sustaining access to care in every community.

For more than two decades, AAA has championed these payment adjustments and continues to advocate for the passage of H.R. 2322/S.1643, bipartisan legislation to make them permanent. We thank the many congressional champions working to protect patients’ access to emergency medical care.

Read the article here ➡️

Emergency services will start feeling a strain on their budgets as the federal shutdown lingers, potentially leading to services being scaled back, ambulance service providers and associations warn.

21/10/2025

Andrew Natoli
Paramedic, Field Training Officer
Medic Ambulance Service Inc.
Sonoma, CA
https://starsof.life/25natoli

Andrew Natoli has built a distinguished career as a Paramedic Field Training Officer in Sonoma County, where his leadership and skill have had a direct and lasting impact on both patients and colleagues. He has been at the center of numerous lifesaving calls, including several cardiac arrest cases in which patients not only survived but were able to return home to their families with full neurological recovery. These outcomes reflect his clinical precision, ability to remain calm in the most high-stakes situations, and unwavering commitment to excellence in prehospital emergency care.

Beyond his exceptional patient care, Andrew is deeply respected for his role as a mentor and educator. As a Field Training Officer, he guides new Paramedics and EMTs, instilling in them the same high standards of professionalism, compassion, and technical expertise that have defined his career. His clear communication, steady leadership, and collaborative approach have earned him the trust of patients, peers, and partner agencies alike. By helping to develop the next generation of EMS providers, Andrew ensures that his influence extends far beyond any single call, strengthening the entire system of care in Sonoma County.

Andrew exemplifies the values of courage, compassion, and clinical excellence that define the EMS profession. Sonoma County is proud to recognize Paramedic Field Training Officer Andrew Natoli as a Star of Life for his remarkable contributions to patient care, mentorship, and community service.

15/10/2025

In anticipation of possible Congressional action, CMS has instructed all Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to continue to temporarily hold claims with dates of service of October 1, 2025, and later for services impacted by the expired Medicare legislative payment provisions passed under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. This includes all claims paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, ground ambulance transport claims, and all Federally Qualified Health Center claims. Providers may continue to submit these claims, but payment will not be released until the hold is lifted.