BILL NUMBER: S903

SPONSOR: YOUNG
 
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 Gener-
al. Every report shall include information, as required by the Commis-
sioner 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 ambu-
lance is being used for non-emergency care it is not available for emer-
gency 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 emer-
gency 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 indi-
vidual may need.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017,2018: S541/A.5028 Referred to Local Government
2015,2016:  S.1990/A.5287 Referred to Local Government
2013,2014: 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.