By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
ALBANY — Legislation signed into law Sept. 18 will reimburse EMS for providing treatment-in-place for patients with Medicaid coverage.
The legislation was championed by state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, D-41, at a recent press conference at the Greenport Rescue Squad.
Prior to the bill’s passage, EMS providers who treated patients on site without transporting them to a hospital emergency room, or brought them to an alternative facility, such as an urgent care clinic, were not reimbursed for their services by Medicaid. EMS was only paid when the patient was taken to a hospital.
Under the new law, EMS providers will be reimbursed for treatment on-scene, or if the patient is transported to an approved health care facility such as urgent care, mental health clinics or telemedicine consultations.
The law goes into effect Oct. 1.
The legislation received bipartisan support in both the state Senate and the Assembly and was endorsed by numerous EMS, firefighter and other first responder organizations.
A bill was also signed into law by the governor allowing ambulances to carry and transfuse blood during all emergency transports, not just between hospitals — prior to the new bill, EMS providers could only handle blood during inter-hospital transfers.
“Our legislation will finally ensure EMS gets paid for care they’re not currently reimbursed for, like on-site treatment, telemedicine, and specialized transport to mental health facilities, as well as allow ground ambulances to administer life-saving blood transfusions to trauma patients in all emergency situations, not just between hospitals,” Hinchey said in a statement. “EMS is a pillar of our health care system, especially in rural and medically underserved areas where EMS is the first — and at times the only — line of emergency care.”
Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy applauded the two bills.
“This series of legislation provides financial support to ambulance and paramedic services struggling with rising costs and demand,” McCoy said. “I want to thank Gov. Hochul for signing this crucial legislation into law. It is an important step to ensuring that our first responders have the tools they need to continue serving the public safely and efficiently.”
Benjamin Boykin II, president of the New York State Association of Counties, said the legislation will provide much-needed support to struggling EMS agencies across the state.
“By signing these pieces of legislation into law, Gov. Hochul is giving New York’s EMS providers and professionals a booster shot in the arm, providing more flexibility and funding to do what they do best: save lives,” Boykin said.
The two laws also received support from the Firefighters Association of the State of New York. FASNY President Eugene Perry, who spoke at the Sept. 6 press conference in Greenport, said in a statement passage of the legislation will give first responders more flexibility in making treatment decisions.
“The enactment of these new laws, which give more decision-making authority to first responders on scene, marks another step forward in improving our emergency response capabilities,” Perry said.
