posted August 13, 2020

Base to provide emergency transport and lifesaving care to area residents in need

(GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colorado, August 13, 2020) – Air Methods, the leading air medical service in the U.S., announced today that its subsidiary, Mercy Air, has opened a new base in Paso Robles, California, to provide emergency air medical services to the city and surrounding area. Other California cities that will be served by the base include San Luis Obispo, Templeton, King City, Cambria, Cayucos, and many more.

The Paso Robles base will provide air medical services 24/7/365 to the region, responding to emergency medical calls for trauma events such as heart attacks and strokes. Mercy Air is staffed with industry-leading, highly trained trauma clinicians and pilots with years of experience in the field. The base is also staffed with skilled aviation mechanics who ensure the aircraft is safe and mission ready at all times.

During missions, medical teams execute lifesaving interventions to care for patients, from providing trauma care after an accident to administering clot-busting medications after a major stroke. With the continued consolidation of hospitals and the growing number of rural hospital closures, the clinical support and speed of transport is critical to ensure patients receive the best and most timely treatment possible.

“In emergency situations, minutes can be the differences between life and death,” said Lisa Epps, area manager for Air Methods. “We are excited to expand access to emergency medical care for everyone in Paso Robles and the surrounding communities. We are also proud that we do not require patients to acquire paid memberships for our services. All patients we transport are supported by our patient advocacy teams, which help them navigate post-flight insurance requirements in order to avoid costly out-of-pocket expenses.”

Air Methods/Mercy Air is in-network with several California state plans, including Anthem Blue Cross California, Blue Shield of California, Humana, Three Rivers Provider Network, and Plotkin Health. Patients who have Medicare Part B or Medi-Cal are only responsible for their copay and deductible. The average out-of-pocket cost for Mercy Air’s patients in California, including copays and deductibles, is $114. 

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About Air Methods
Air Methods is the leading air medical service, delivering lifesaving care to more than 70,000 people every year. With nearly 40 years of air medical experience, Air Methods is the preferred partner for hospitals and one of the largest community-based providers of air medical services. United Rotorcraft is the Company’s products division, specializing in the design and manufacture of aeromedical and aerospace technology. Air Methods’ fleet of owned, leased or maintained aircraft features more than 450 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

Media Contacts:
Doug Flanders
Director of Communications, Air Methods
 

Matt Pera
Amendola Communications for Air Methods
(219) 628-0258