Schumer Supports Payments to Ambulance Providers

By Mark Giardina

Rochester NY – With falling Medicare reimbursements threatening ambulance service throughout Rochester and New York State, US Senator Charles Schumer will unveil a plan Monday that would boost payments to ambulance providers. Schumer will
be in Rochester to stress the urgent need to increase support for first responder emergency
medical personnel .
A pending Medicare proposal scheduled to go into effect next year would
reduce the reimbursement rates for ambulance service in New York State by
about $15 million annually to about $145 million. Industry officials
estimate that in Rochester, area ambulance providers would lose $300,000
annually under the new Medicare fee schedule. Under the Medicare Ambulance
Payment Reform Act , the Rochester providers would
receive an additional $2 million to cover the full cost of their services.