By MELANIE LEKOCEVIC
Capital Region Independent Media
GREENPORT— Elected officials, EMS and other first responders are pushing for the governor to sign legislation that would reimburse emergency services for on-scene treatment or transport to medical facilities other than hospital emergency rooms.
Under the current Medicaid reimbursement structure, EMS is only paid if the patient is transported to a hospital. Treating the person on site or bringing them to another facility, such as an urgent care or mental health clinic, is not reimbursable by Medicaid and EMS does not get paid.
The sponsors of the bill, state Senator Michelle Hinchey (D-41st) and Assemblywoman Anna Kelles (D-125th) hosted a press conference at the Greenport Rescue Squad flanked by members of several EMS squads from across Greene and Columbia counties, firefighters and other first responder organizations.
Aidan O’Connor, executive director of the Greenport Rescue Squad, opened the press conference by saying that first responder organizations of all types are in support of the legislation and urge Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the bill before the deadline of September 30.
“We are all united. For the first time in history, every kind of EMS — municipal, commercial, not-for-profit, volunteer and paid — we are all united,” Mr. O’Connor said. “Every EMS association in New York state and our fellow first responders are all united. We know the problems and we want to be part of the solution. EMS is in a crisis in New York state and around the country. We are suffering from monumental challenges that require practical and quick solutions.”
The issue is especially vital in rural areas like Greene County, where there is no hospital and patients must be transported to Columbia or Albany counties, Mr. O’Connor said. In some areas of the Hudson Valley, it can take up to an hour or more to transport patients to a hospital.
Emergency room wait times are also very long, on average three hours or more, so treating the person on site or bringing them to another facility would be a better option and more cost effective, Senator Hinchey said.
“If we can get our EMS folks reimbursed for, one, the work that they are already doing, and two, able to redirect people to the places where they should actually go — not everyone has to go to a hospital, not everyone has to go to an emergency room,” the senator said. “Someone may be just as well served at an urgent care or mental health facility or a substance abuse disorder clinic, or somewhere else that would actually give them faster service and alleviate the pressure on our already overwhelmed emergency rooms.”
“If we could do that, and if [EMS] could be reimbursed for it, that is a way to strengthen the services that we rely on so desperately in communities like the 41st district,” she added.
Assemblywoman Kelles said the legislation is bipartisan and must be signed by the end of the month in order to go into effect this year. But more needs to be done to support EMS in the state, such as increasing the rate of reimbursement for both Medicare and Medicaid, she said.
“[The legislation] passed unanimously in both houses,” Assemblywoman Kelles said. “It is bipartisan — there is no reason not to support it exactly as written, but it is only a first step. Get this one done and then we will be back to address all the other issues that need to be addressed.”
The bill has received support from other first responder organizations, including the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, or FASNY.
“Responding to our neighbors’ medical emergencies is vital to our state and an integral part of the role volunteer firefighters undertake every day,” FASNY President Eugene Perry said. “Providing those we serve with the care they need, where and how they need it, while adding efficiencies and flexibility to the EMS system, is good for everyone.”
