Two bills aiming to help patients and ambulance services signed into law

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)—Two new state laws will have a big impact on ambulance services in New York. One helping them get paid, the other allowing them to expand their care to patients in need.

“Our EMS providers are truly the front line of our health care services, but unfortunately through decades of disinvestment and lack of investment, they are struggling to stay in business and stay open and continue to serve people and support people,” explained Senator Michelle Hinchey.

A new law set to take effect in October will help to change that, by no longer making transportation to a hospital a requirement for ambulance services to be reimbursed by Medicaid.

Timothy Egan, Chairman of the United New York Ambulance Network, said about 30% of ambulance responses don’t result in patients being brought to the hospital.

“What this would give us the ability to do, is bill for those emergencies we respond to, where we don’t transport a patient,” explained Egan.

Egan said Medicaid reimbursements help them get paid for their work.

“There’s a lot more than just bringing a patient to a hospital in terms of what it costs ambulance services. There’s the cost of preparedness, the cost of response, there’s staffing, administrative overhead. The equipment, the capital. All of that kind of stuff.”

Ambulances will also be allowed to transport a patient to a health care facility that’s not a hospital.

Senator Michelle Hinchey said another new law will allow ground ambulances to carry, distribute, and transfuse blood.

“Right now, they are able to do that and give blood transfusions if they are transporting someone between hospitals, but often they are called to the scene where someone might need that acute care,” said Hinchey. “They are actually not allowed to do that today, so our bill closes that loophole and allows them to provide the care that’s needed.”

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