MEMSE Cofounder Alanna Badgley spoke at the New York State Assembly of Counties (NYSAC) Press Conference in January, extolling the potential benefits of a new legislative package that could strengthen local emergency medical services.
The package, comprised of six EMS-centric bills, aims to provide local governments with the authority to create and fund countywide EMS services, provide financial incentives for EMS workers to enter and stay in the field, and update Medicaid reimbursement rates to reflect current needs and costs.
"We believe that each of these bills can effectively address a component of the EMS crisis and must be coupled with future legislation to create long-term sustainability for a functioning pre-hospital healthcare system," said Badgley. "We are encouraged by the continued legislative energy of our leaders here in New York to build EMS as a viable career path for healthcare professionals within this field, not outside of it.”
Badgley will speak again at the NYSAC Legislative Conference on February 28.
You can view the full press conference, including Badgley's entire speech, below. (Badgley's speech starts around 35:30)