The American Ambulance Association has recognized U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) as a recipient of its 2024 Legislative Recognition Award for his work advocating for emergency medical services. The honor is reserved for Members of Congress who have demonstrated ongoing dedication to ambulance services across the United States.
“Protecting access to emergency services, particularly for our veterans and those living in rural communities, must always be a priority. I am proud to champion policies ensuring this critical resource that delivers lifesaving medical care is available and sustainable. It is an honor to partner with the American Ambulance Association and support Arkansas’s outstanding EMS personnel,” Boozman said.
Jamie Pafford-Gresham, CEO of Hope, Arkansas-based Pafford Medical Services, presented Boozman with the award in his Washington office. The company operates a family-owned ground ambulance service that serves communities across the state, providing 9-1-1 emergency and interfacility transports. Pafford-Gresham is also the President-elect of the American Ambulance Association.
“On behalf of the American Ambulance Association and Pafford Medical Services, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to Senator John Boozman for his support of EMS professionals in Arkansas and beyond. His dedication to ensuring that EMS providers have the resources they need to serve their communities has been invaluable. We are proud to recognize him for his steadfast commitment to our field and his leadership in advocating for the health and safety of Arkansans,” said Pafford-Gresham.
This Congress, Boozman led a bipartisan push to protect rural veterans’ access to quality, lifesaving emergency medical care and transport with the introduction of the VA Emergency Transportation Access Act. The legislation would haveprevented the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from reducing rates of pay and reimbursement for special mode transportation providers, including ground and air ambulances, unless VA meets certain requirements that ensure rate changes will not reduce access for veterans.
This effort, alongside the senator’s work on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, prompted the VA to delay its planned rule changes on specialty ambulance reimbursements and allow providers more time to reach an amicable agreement on reimbursement rates.
