BILL NUMBER:S1990

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation
to directing municipalities to submit a report to the local social
services district on the circumstances surrounding the summoning of
emergency medical services on four or more occasions for any
individual during a thirty day period of time

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To require municipalities which receive four or more emergency medical
calls in a 30 day period for an individual to report such calls to the
local social services district.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 would amend the general municipal law by adding a new
section 122-a to require every county, city, town and village which
receives four or more calls or demands for emergency medical service
in a 30 day period for an individual to report such circumstances to
the local social service district and the office of the Medicaid
Inspector General. Every report shall include information, as required
by the Commissioner of the Department of Health as to the adequacy of
care being received by the individual and if the emergency services
were warranted. Section 2 sets forth the effective date.

              

JUSTIFICATION:

Ambulance abuse, or the over use of ambulance services in
non-emergency situations, can indicate that an individual needs more
or different services than they are currently receiving. In addition,
when an ambulance is being used for non-emergency care it is not
available for emergency situations that arise during that same time.
For emergencies where seconds count, this places people's lives in
danger because they are unable to get an ambulance fast enough.

Further, one trip in an ambulance can cost between $400 and $500. The
use of ambulances for non-emergency services, when requested for
emergency transport, can place the cost of non-emergent transport on
the localities who pay for ambulance services. The burden is then
shifted to the taxpayers.

This bill would require reports to be made regarding frequent
ambulance use to the local social services districts. The local social
service district can then assess what additional or different services
the individual may need.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2013: S.2692/A.6006 Referred to Local Government
2012: S.5727/A.9307 Referred to Local Government
2011: S.5727/A.9307 Referred to Rules

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Unknown.


EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become law.