By Sarah Roebuck
EMS1
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — EMS providers across the state of New York are in a crisis due to rising costs and high demand for increasingly complex services.
A group of EMS advocates are working to enact a passage of reforms called “Rescue EMS” that would make EMS an “essential” service under the law, the New York State Association of Counties said in a news release.
The proposed set of seven bills in the state Assembly and Senate aims to overhaul a wide range of regulations and state mandates concerning ambulance services. These measures range from recognizing EMS as a vital service that must be provided in every community to enhancing benefits for volunteer EMTs, paramedics and firefighters.
Back in March, over 800 county officials gathered in Albany County for the annual Legislative Conference. During the conference, Alanna Badgley, a paramedic and co-founder of Make EMS Essential, spoke about the state of EMS services in New York.
“When we say ‘make EMS essential,’ what we mean is, live up to the promise that an ambulance will arrive when someone calls 911 ... that lives will be saved in the process,” Badgley said.
Badgley was featured as one of TIME’s “Heroes of the Front Lines” during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to be a vocal supporter of EMS providers.
On May 14, EMS leaders, lawmakers and advocates rallied in the state Capitol to support the “Rescue EMS” legislation.