Advisory Committee on Air Ambulance Quality and Patient Safety
No Surprises Act- Overview
Title I (No Surprises Act) of Division BB of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), requires the Secretaries of HHS, DOT to jointly establish an Advisory Committee on Air Ambulance Quality and Patient Safety Advisory Committee (AAQPS). The Committee must be established, operated, and staffed in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
Air Ambulance Quality and Patient Safety FACA Committee
The No Surprises Act (Section 106(g)), enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Secretary of the Transportation (DOT) to establish and convene an advisory committee for the purpose of reviewing options to establish quality, patient safety, and clinical capability standards for each clinical capability level of air ambulances. This notice announces the establishment of the Air Ambulance Quality and Patient Safety Advisory Committee (the Advisory Committee) and solicits nominations for membership on the Advisory Committee. The AAQPS Advisory Committee was to be established by March 27, 2021, and the Committee’s recommendations must be reported to the Secretaries and to certain members of Congress within 180 days of the Committee’s first meeting.
CMS will lead the efforts to establish and operate the Committee. Thereafter, HHS and CMS assigned the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CCSQ) responsibility for performing HHS’s duties in relation to the Committee.
Committee Members
Jeff Richey- HHS Secretary’s Designee/Representative
Robert Reckert- DoT Secretary’s Designee/Representative
Ben Clayton- DoT Representative
Colonel Steven L. Coffee - Patient Advocate
Dr. Jordan Pritzker- Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers
Dr. Mark Gamber- HHS Representative
Dr. William Hinckley- Healthcare Provider
Eileen Frazer- Accrediting bodies
Grace Arnold- State Insurance Regulator
Jason Clark- HHS Representative
Jason Quisling- DoT Representative
Jim Houser- DoT Representative
Paul Julander- DoT Representative
Thomas Judge- DoT Representative
Meetings
- Informational Webinar. October 17, 2024, 2pm ET (1pm CT, 12pm MT, 11am PT)
- Meeting Materials are located in the “Downloads” section.
- AAQPS Committee Public Meeting. December 12, 2024, 10am-5pm ET (Virtual)_
- Meeting Materials are located in the “Downloads” section.
- AAQPS Committee Public Meeting. May 8, 2025, 10am-5pm (virtual)
- The purpose of the second AAQPS Committee Public Meeting is to review draft recommendations to establish quality, patient safety, and clinical capability standards for each clinical capability level of air ambulances. Please register here to attend the public meeting: Register Now
- Meeting Materials are located in the “Downloads” section.
- AAQPS Committee Public Meeting. July 10, 2025, 10am-5pm (virtual)
- Meeting Materials are located in the “Downloads” section.
Contact us
Downloads
-
May 8, 2025 AAQPS Committee Meeting Agenda (PDF) -
AAQPS Reference Materials Summary (PDF) -
AAQPS Committee Meeting Transcript.508c.12.12.2024 (PDF) -
AAQPS Meeting FINAL Summary.508c.12.12.24 (PDF) -
AAQPS Meeting Slides.508c. 12.12.24 (PDF) -
December 12, 2024 Public Meeting Materials (PDF) -
December 12, 2024 Public Meeting Agenda (PDF) -
Charter (PDF) -
Request for Nominations for members (June 7, 2023) (PDF) -
October 17, 2024 Webinar Transcript (PDF) -
October 17, 2024 Webinar Slides (PDF)