Arizona law now treats air ambulances (certain federally certificated aircraft) separately from ground and water ambulances, sets staffing for air ambulance transfers between facilities, and extends many existing ambulance rules and legal protections to air ambulances and their medical crews.
Official title: air ambulance services
- September 12, 2026
What changes
Before"Ambulance" included surface, water or air vehicles, including helicopters.
Now"Ambulance" covers only surface or water vehicles. A separate "air ambulance" is an aircraft certificated under federal aviation rules (14 CFR part 135) that is equipped and used mainly to transport sick or injured people. "Air ambulance attendants" are defined as paramedics or registered nurses whose main job is air ambulance patient care, plus licensed respiratory therapists, physicians and nurse practitioners.
BeforeThe text shows only a staffing rule for interfacility transport by ambulance, which at the time counted air vehicles as ambulances.
NowAn air ambulance moving a patient between facilities must be staffed with one physician, registered nurse or nurse practitioner, plus one paramedic, respiratory therapist or registered nurse.
BeforeState rules for air ambulance services had to set response times and operation times.
NowThat requirement is removed. Air ambulances must still hold a certificate of registration (fee up to $50 each, none for volunteer not-for-profit services) and be inspected at least every 12 months. State complaint and investigation rules apply to them only for their emergency medical services and only where they do not conflict with federal air carrier law.
BeforeIf an ambulance owner filed a complete renewal on time and the department could not inspect in time, the department could let the registration stay valid until inspection.
NowThat provision is removed from the law.
BeforeSeveral legal protections named ambulance attendants and pilots, but not air ambulance attendants.
NowAir ambulance attendants are added to the volunteer emergency-aid liability protection, the pandemic-emergency liability protection, the definition of first responder (including for giving epinephrine), and the exception to the crime of transporting people unlawfully in the U.S. while providing emergency medical services.
Who it affects
- Air ambulance services and their medical crews (paramedics, nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, physicians)
- Patients transported by air ambulance, including AHCCCS members
- Ground ambulance services
- Arizona Department of Health Services
- Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
What you need to do
Nothing.
What the law doesn't answer
- Whether air ambulances already registered under the old definition need to reregister
- When the department will update its rules for air ambulances
- How the department will handle ambulance renewals it cannot inspect in time now that the grace provision is removed
- Whether the new staffing rule changes current staffing on any existing air ambulance flights
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.