First responders, Hinchey, Kelles urge Governor to sign EMS Reimbursement Bill

HUDSON, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- Senator Michelle Hinchey (D, Saugerties) and Assemblymember Anna Kelles (D, Ithaca), supported by emergency and first responders are urging Governor Kathy Hochul to sign their bill to expand Medicaid reimbursements for emergency medical service providers. Currently, these first responders are reimbursed when transporting patients to hospital emergency rooms.

If passed, the legislation would allow reimbursements for on-scene treatment, transport to healthcare facilities including urgent care and mental health clinics and for telemedicine consultations. Hinchey and Kelles are urging Hochul to sign legislation by the end of this month, for it to take effect this year.

"Our TIP/TAD bill is critical for keeping emergency medical services available in the State of New York, especially in rural and medically underserved communities where EMS is the frontline of healthcare," Hinchey said. "The demand for EMS is rising, but many providers statewide are facing detrimental challenges, and among them is inadequate reimbursement that’s threatening their ability to stay open and provide people the care they need when they need it. Our bill will help by ensuring EMS are finally paid for providing care they’re not currently reimbursed for, like treating patients at the scene of an injury, facilitating telemedicine, or taking people to specialized care like a mental health facility. I’m grateful to our EMS and fire departments for their partnership in elevating this issue, which has led to our bill and its unanimous passage in both legislative houses this past session. We urge the Governor to sign it into law by Sept. 30 so it can have an immediate impact in supporting EMS providers and saving lives."

So far, the bill has the support of the United New York Ambulance Network (UNYAN), NYS Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Association (NYSVARA), Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY), NYS Association of Fire Districts and members of local rescue and EMS squads.

"Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provide essential lifesaving care throughout the state, including direct aid both on site and in transit to a medical facility. These services are especially critical in rural areas where access to hospitals may be hours away," Kelles said. "Missing this deadline would mean our EMS providers lose out on an entire year of benefits. We have a duty to ensure EMS providers are reimbursed for providing treatment on site, and that providers have the flexibility in transporting patients to maximize their availability for all emergencies in their service area."

The Ambulance Administrator for the Town of Catskill said the package will address the critical issues EMS providers face, but also those faced by fire districts and departments.

"New legislation is essential to address these evolving challenges. Fire District and Fire Department-based ambulance services are on the front lines, delivering first response medical care and assistance for our neighbors' medical emergencies every day," he said. "They continuously seek more efficient and effective ways to serve our communities. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Legislature on initiatives to recruit and retain more volunteer firefighters and EMS providers."

The bill was previously passed, unanimously, by the State Legislature in June. In order to take effect this year, Hochul must sign the bill by Sept. 30.