EMS News Briefs from Mike McEvoy

EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy, Ph.D., NRP, RN, CCRN
NYSAFC EMS Committee

Fire Department/District Ambulance Billing
After 20-plus years, NYSAFC and our fire service partner organizations have finally obtained a temporary, 4-year hiatus to the restriction on fire departments organized under 209b from billing for ambulance service. This legislation, included in Governor Kathy Hochul's budget and passed by both houses, will save taxpayers millions of dollars they previously had to pay to fund fire department operated ambulances who were prohibited from billing health insurance for transports. Dozens of fire department ambulance services will likely be able to avoid planned shut downs and closures. Departments across the state currently suffering from inability to obtain timely ambulance response for their residents now have the ability to provide ambulance service using insurance reimbursement. The text of the Senate bill 8005c, signed into law, is available here (see section KK).

National Registry EMS Research Mentorship Program
The National Registry of EMTs is sponsoring an 8-week summer research mentorship program to connect aspiring EMS researchers with nationally known EMS researchers. More information on the program is available here.