By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Ambulance companies in Buffalo and elsewhere in New York say low Medicare reimbursements are affecting their bottom lines. Monday, US Senator Charles Schumer appeared at Rural Metro Ambulance in Buffalo to say he plans to do something about that.
A report from the Government Accountability Office finds that ambulance companies are reimbursed at a rate that is six percent below their costs for transporting Medicare patients. Al Lewis, president of the United New York Ambulance Network, says the impact of that is significant in a region with a high elderly population.
Schumer says he will introduce legislation later this month that would increase Medicare funding to ambulance services. Such companies as Rural Metro and Twin City Ambulance would see their funding increased by $1.7 million.
Click the "listen" icon above to hear Mark Scott's story now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.