Kuhl Working with Schumer on Ambulance-Aid Bill

From the Syracuse Post-Standard:

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer visited Syracuse Tuesday to tell ambulance crews he is optimistic the Senate will pass a bill that will provide nearly $700,000 in additional Medicare reimbursements for Onondaga County ambulance companies.

Medicare pays ambulance companies on average 6 percent less than the actual costs when Medicare-eligible patients are transported, Schumer, D-NY, said.

He introduced a bill in May that calls for the Medicare reimbursement rate to be increased by 5 percent in 2008 and 2009, Schumer said at a news conference at Rural/Metro Ambulance. He said he expects the bill to be part of a Medicare package the Senate votes on in December.

An identical bill pending in the House of Representatives is co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. James Walsh, R-Onondaga; Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, and Randy Kuhl, R-Hammondsport.