Homepage

Emergency Service Providers are Calling on Gov. Hochul to pass the “Direct Pay Legislation” EMTs Call on Hochul to pass the "Direct Pay Legislation"

EMTs in Central New York are pushing for higher reimbursement rates

By Ireland Walker

Ireland Walker:
Nearly 7,000 calls a year are made to the city of auburn ambulance, which means these EMTs are responding to nearly 20 calls every 24 hours. But some EMTs say they are not making as much as they are supposed to.

Walker: Both EMTs and state lawmakers are backing a new bill called the direct pay legislation that they hope will fix this issue. Auburn ambulance Operations Director Kezia Sullivan says the bill will provide proper reimbursement to these workers.

Kezia Sullivan: All ambulance services, they are struggling with insurance reimbursement rates, and they really haven’t kept up with the cost of doing business.

Walker: Currently EMTs are paid through insurance checks given directly to patients. The problem is, patients can withhold checks, keep the money or even throw the checks away. The bill, already passed by the State Senate and Assembly, requires insurance companies to pay EMTs directly.

Walker: If passed the legislation would not impact on uninsured patients and would not answer the question to why EMTs are not getting properly reimbursed and why patients are withholding checks.

Walker: Governor Hochul tells NCC News she will review this legislation but the bill has opposition from both the business council of New York State and the New York State Health Plan Association. While uninsured patients are unaffected both organizations claim the bill would increase insurance costs.

Walker: Meanwhile, Sullivan says the current billing process can be confusing.

Sullivan: Some people just don’t open their mail or they cash the check and keep the money or they just don’t know what to do with it. And so it leads to inefficiencies in reimbursement.

Walker: But for now, EMTs are hoping the governor will respond to their calls for help, Ireland Walker NCC News.

AUBURN, N.Y. (NCC News)-  Emergency service providers are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to pass the “direct pay legislation,” a bill that, if passed, would warrant insurance companies to pay EMTs directly.

Currently, EMTs are paid through insurance checks given to patients. The bill is seen as a chance to bypass the patient and allow insurance companies to compensate EMTs.

The Director of Operations at the City of Auburn Ambulance, Kezia Sullivan, said the bill would give proper reimbursement to workers.

 

Auburn, N.Y- City of Auburn Ambulance sign at the Ambulance station.
Auburn, N.Y- City of Auburn Ambulance sign at the Auburn station.
© 2021 Ireland Walker

“All ambulance services, they are struggling with insurance reimbursement rates, and they really haven’t kept up with the cost of doing business,” Sullivan said.

If passed, the legislation would not impact uninsured patients and would not answer the questions of why EMTs are not properly getting reimbursed and why patients are withholding checks.

However, Sullivan said the current billing process can be confusing for some patients, and they can withhold checks, keep the money or even throw the checks away, which could be a reason for the lack of reimbursement.

“Some people just don’t open their mail, or they cash the check and keep the money, or they just don’t know what to do with it,” Sullivan said. “And so it leads to inefficiencies in reimbursement.”

The bill has passed both the state Senate and Assembly, and Governor Hochul told NCC News she will review this legislation.

The bill does have opposition, and some organizations in the state are concerned that it would increase the cost of insurance.

Related Articles