Rescue EMS: New York State – EMS Advocacy Alert

New York EMS Supporters: Help Us With The Rescue EMS Package Before End of 2024 Legislative Session

This is a call for any New York State EMS provider to request Assembly Speaker Carl. Heastie to ensure a group of bills are passed out of committee before the end of the 2024 legislative session. These 7 bills will help New York ambulance services get an essential services designation, increased Medicaid funding.

Please only complete this form IF you live in New York State.

Ask Speaker Heastie to Advance the Rescue EMS Bills Before End of Session

This petition is now closed.

End date: Jun 08, 2024

Signatures collected: 472

Signature goal: 500

472 signatures

Signature goal: 500

The Honorable Speaker Carl Heastie
New York State Assembly
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

SUBJECT: EMS requesting support of Rescue EMS Package of Bills - Before End of Session

Dear Speaker Heastie,

I am writing to you to request you support a package of bills designed to rescue EMS before the end of this legislative session:

Making EMS an essential service designation (A.3392-C Otis),
Improving Medicaid Reimbursement for ambulance services (A.9237 Hevesi),
Allowing Treatment In Place reimbursement for care paramedics already provide (A.9102 Kelles),
Removing EMS services from the real property tax cap (A.4077 Lupardo)
Increase the volunteer ambulance income tax credit (A.7524 Thiele)
Allow volunteer ambulance workers to claim state income and local property tax credits (A.6274 Barrett)
Allow Thruway Authority to issue emergency services permits to EMS vehicles as is already done for fire vehicles (A.6136 Eachus)

This group of legislation will help our EMS organizations improve care delivery to our community. We appreciate your continued support of emergency medical providers throughout New York State.

We thank you for your consideration and urge you to advance this package of bills into law, and strengthen ambulance services throughout the New York.

Sincerely,

______________

News Coverage on Proposed Rescue EMS Legislation Package

Lawmakers push for package of bills to 'rescue' EMS providers

“We are used to EMS rescuing us, and they have come together and appealed to us that they need rescuing,” state Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo said. Lupardo and 13 other lawmakers are sponsoring legislation that would increase funding for providers and incentivize volunteers to continue working for EMS providers.

Full Story

Coalition Calls for Passage of Legislative Package to Rescue EMS

Ahead of EMS Week (May 19-25), a coalition of state Legislators joined New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), NYS Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Association, Inc. (NYSVARA), and United New York Ambulance Network (UNYAN) to advocate for the passage of a group of bills* aimed at supporting emergency medical services (EMS) throughout the state.

FULL STORY

Advocates, lawmakers rally at N.Y. state Capitol for EMS legislation

EMS leaders and advocates rallied in Albany to promote bills that supporters say would take great steps to stabilize ambulance services. “We are coming at this from every angle we can think of,” said Assemblymember Donna A. Lupardo, D- Binghamton. “In one of my municipalities, they have not been able to increase EMS services the way they would like, because it comes up against the property tax cap.”

FULL STORY