Volunteer fire departments have a unique distinction in that they are not required to provide emergency medical services. In most if not all cases, it’s simply a historical obligation.
But a law that dates back to 1957 (eight years before Medicaid and nine years prior to Medicare) prohibits those volunteer fire departments from billing for emergency medical services. A new law recently passed by the State Senate and currently before the Assembly would change that. Volunteer fire departments have said for decades that it’s long overdue in the only state that still does not allow EMS billing by these entities.
The “Fair Play” Cost Recovery Bill would simply allow volunteer fire departments to bill for their services. Volunteer fire departments that answer some 297,000 calls annually are missing out on more than $100 million each year, according to a 2018 study.
That’s money that could be used to finance the $275,000-plus rigs that need replacement every other year, not to mention the costs of training that amount to tens of thousands of dollars each year.
The COVID-19 pandemic has only made the already fragile financial status worse, especially in the Selden community just outside of New York City.
Contact your State Assembly member and tell them to support the “Fair Play” Cost Recovery Bill S3685B / A1778A
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