UNITED NEW YORK AMBULANCE NETWORK INC

Pushes for legislative reforms to update New York State’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) laws, focusing on financial sustainability, oversight, and formal recognition of EMS as an integrated component of healthcare and public safety.

Organizes an annual EMS Lobby Day to bring member representatives to Albany for coordinated legislative advocacy, supporting policy reforms related to emergency medical services.

Provides capacity-building training programs for EMS staff in areas including pre-hospital emergency medicine, disaster response, incident management, and mass casualty care.

Manages a network of over 40 commercial ambulance providers across New York State to facilitate information sharing on pre-hospital care, industry updates, and operational coordination. Maintains ongoing collaboration with the New York State Department of Health for emergency response deployment during natural and man-made disasters.

Represents proprietary ambulance providers across New York State as a professional trade association, engaging in year-round advocacy on legislative and regulatory issues affecting EMS funding, operations, and recognition.

Organizes quarterly membership meetings across New York State, an annual educational conference, an outstanding employees reception, and lobby day to support networking, professional development, and association communication among member ambulance companies.

Provides legal support and advocacy services to member ambulance companies, including representation before state agencies and lawmakers on regulatory and reimbursement issues.

Distributes quarterly newsletters and operates the "From The Field" notification system to share timely industry updates, policy changes, and operational alerts with member organizations.

Successfully advocated for key laws enhancing safety and rights for emergency personnel, including Mark’s Law (2013) for aggravated penalties for attacks on first responders, the Occupational Exposure Testing law (2011), and the authorization of blue lights on ambulances (2011).

Coordinates the deployment of ambulance resources within New York State and to external regions (including the Gulf Coast) during hurricanes, ice storms, floods, and other emergencies. Participates in strike teams and task forces for evacuation, shelter operations, and emergency medical response.

Seeks increased Medicaid reimbursement, fair commercial insurance payment reform, access to federal and state transformation funds, and protection of existing Medicare-to-Medicaid crossover payments to ensure financial viability of rural and urban EMS providers.

Supports legislative amendments to Article 30 to formally define EMS as a coordinated system integrating healthcare, transportation, and public safety; advocates for standardized 911 dispatch protocols, electronic patient care reporting, tiered response systems, and regulation of Basic Life Support agencies performing advanced interventions.

Championed passage of the Move Over Law (2010) requiring drivers to yield or slow down when passing emergency vehicles, and supported expansion of No Fault insurance to cover DWI-related ambulance transports (2011).

Contracts independent research firms, such as Health Management Associates (HMA), to study the financial sustainability of ground ambulance services in New York State, with a focus on Medicaid reimbursement rates and cost coverage.

Operates a Reimbursement Committee that assists member organizations with resolving payment disputes and compliance issues involving Medicaid, Medicare, private insurers, and the Medicaid Inspector General.