New York to allow first responders to conduct blood transfusions

This week, New York State adopted two new laws that will provide new resources to ground based paramedics in the Empire State.  

Legislation S.8486-C/A.9102-C requires Medicaid reimbursement for ambulance services when treatment in place is administered and/or when transportation is provided to alternative health care settings instead of a general hospital. 

Legislation S.6226-A/A.5789-A authorizes ground ambulance and advanced life support first response services to store and distribute blood and initiate and administer blood transfusions, mirroring authorizations provided to air ambulance services. The new authorization will likely prove a useful tool for first responders tasked with stabilizing patients as they are moved to a medical facility. 

United New York Ambulance Network Chairperson, Rockland Paramedic Services Executive Director, and Rockland Mobile Care CEO Timothy P. Egann spokie in favor of the new legislation in a statment shared with the RCT, stating“The United New York Ambulance Network (UNYAN) thanks Governor Kathy Hochul for enacting these laws. They will have a tremendous impact on the emergency medical system and overall healthcare of New Yorkers. The Treatment in Place / Transport to Alternate Destination law will ensure ambulance service providers are reimbursed for the care they provide to every Medicaid patient in every scenario, boosting EMS and the overall healthcare system. The ground ambulance blood transfusion law will significantly improve patient outcomes and survival rates of traumatically injured patients across New York State. We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul and the Department of Health for recognizing the importance of these two bills and making them a reality.”