In America, a free market, capitalistic society, most folks spurn government involvement and regulation. Once the Feds are involved it is usually bureaucracy at it's worst and since the US Constitution clearly spells out states rights in it's 10th amendment, it's not as easy as 1, 2, 3 to get stuff changed on the Federal level and then enforced on a nationwide basis.
EMS in the U.S. is highly fragmented, with private operations at times competing with state-funded ops for patients. In Virginia, for example, there are many municipalities that have State Police operations AND private ops literally flying to the same accident scene, with the accident victims riding for almost free if they're loaded in a State helicopter but the victims loaded onto the private helicopters getting hit with a bill of $30,000 or more!
You want to see more government regulation? Stop talking about pilots getting together and complaining because that won't get much sympathy, since professional EMS piloting is by its very nature considered dangerous. Instead, get PATIENTS to complain, since THEY are the ones paying the bill. Unfortunately, I've never heard of a critically ill person electing to ride by ground ambulance for two hours instead of taking a 40 minute helicopter flight because of the accidents that occur in EMS flying. No, that badly injured man or woman will do almost anything to get to an ER quickly, thus they aren't gonna sit up in their stretcher and complain that flying in an EMS helicopter is too dangerous.
Get regular citizens, eg paying customers to complain...loudly. Until then, it will more talking and very little if no action. Remember, the USA has 300 MILLION plus citizens spread over fifty states and the D.C.
Last edited by 13snoopy; 10th Jun 2013 at 04:13.