Local regional hospitals and air ambulance companies are being bought up by private equity. And, surprise surprise, privately-owned regional hospitals are cutting critical care specialty services and so air ambulance life flights have increased 900%. I expect mortality has increased too logically because of delays in care.
The Air-Ambulance Vultures (2022) https://archive.ph/2TYGj
Air ambulances, backed by private equity firms, leave patients with $45,000 bills (2018) https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-air-ambulance-cost-20...
Not for nothing though, and not defending PE... or insurers (UHC denying air ambulance for serious MVA trauma due to "lack of pre-auth")... but most air ambulance companies have fairly cheap "membership":
Airlift NW has a $60/year membership for families that will bill your insurance, and consider what they get from insurance as payment-in-full (https://www.uwmedicine.org/airliftnw/membership). Many also have reciprocal programs in other areas.