New NY Laws Aimed at Improving EMS

KINGSTON, N.Y. — Two bills pushed by state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, D- Saugerties, to improve emergency medical services have been signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul, the senator’s office said.

One of them is legislation creating three new reimbursement sources for EMS (S8486C) and expanding the ability of motor vehicle ambulance services to administer life-saving blood transfusions (S6226A).

Previously, ambulance services were only reimbursed for transporting patients to hospital emergency rooms.

Hinchey’s bill expands this to include reimbursement for on-scene treatment, transport to approved healthcare facilities like urgent care and mental health clinics, and telemedicine consultations.

The second Hinchey bill allows ambulances to carry and transfuse blood during all emergency transports, not just between hospitals.

“Under the former system, ambulances could only handle blood during inter-hospital transfers, but this bill removes those restrictions, expanding assistance for all trauma patients,” Hinchey’s office said in a statement.

“Our legislation will finally ensure EMS get 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.

Aidan O’Connor Jr, executive director of Greenport Rescue Squad Inc. in Columbia County and previous EMS Coordinator for Greene County, said that the bills are a benefit to all services.

“The treat-in-place and alternative destinations bill is transformational for all EMS—whether municipal, non-profit, commercial, rural, suburban, or urban,” O’Connor said in a statement. “The blood transfusion bill for ground ambulances provides one of the most vital tools in our toolbox to save lives and represents the most advanced contribution to EMS in New York State in decades.”

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