ALBANY, N.Y. — During the 2024 State Legislative Session, legislation was adopted to strengthen local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and will also enable sales tax and hotel/motel occupancy tax to be collected from short-term rental companies such as Airbnb and VRBO.
“By working constructively with our partners in the State Legislature, we’ve been able to achieve significant progress on measures that will provide a critical lifeline to local EMS and establish a fair system for short-term rentals that will directly benefit local communities by funding essential services, such as public safety, social services, and infrastructure improvements,” NYSAC Executive Director Stephen Acquario said in a statement.
If EMS providers treat patients in an emergent state and then transport them to non-hospital healthcare facilities, they are now able to receive reimbursement following the creation of the new bill.
“This is a significant step forward for EMS systems struggling to stay solvent amid rising costs and outdated funding formulas that impose a ‘one-size-fits-all’ requirement for ambulances to transport patients to a hospital,” NYSAC President and Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said.
“Counties commend Assembly Speaker Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Assembly member Kelles, and Senator Hinchey for their leadership and commitment to ensuring EMS providers are fairly compensated for providing patients with the care they need.”
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