Referred to: The Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee (Chairwoman Hansut and Legislators Hewitt, Maloney, McCollough and Walls)

Legislators Joe Donaldson, Eric J. Kitchen, and Jason J. Kovacs offer the following:

WHEREAS, Northern Dutchess Paramedics, Inc. (NDP EMS) is a full-service medical transportation company specializing in inter-facility transportation and  emergency medical response; and

WHEREAS, Since 1995, NDP EMS has provided these services to Dutchess County, Columbia County, and Connecticut; and

WHEREAS, NDP EMS has identified the need in Ulster County for expanded  services and assistance in providing timely emergency, non-emergency, and tertiary care transportation that is not always readily available in Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, to extend its service area to include Ulster County, NDP EMS has indicated that it will be applying to the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) for a Certificate of Need and a determination of “public need”; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature acknowledges that NYS DOH Policy Statement 06-06 has defined “public need” as “the demonstrated absence, reduced availability or an inadequate level of care in ambulance or emergency medical service available to a geographic area which is not readily correctable through the reallocation or improvement of existing resources” and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature, upon due consideration, finds that there is a “public need” for expanded ambulance and/or emergency medical services to address the needs of the people of Ulster County; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature supports the application of NDP EMS to the NYS DOH for a “Certificate of Need” to extend its service area to include Ulster County; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall forward copies

of this resolution to the New York State Department of Health, to the Ulster County Executive, to the Ulster County Commissioner of Health, to Governor Hochul, and all Ulster County elected State Assemblymembers and Senators,

and moves its adoption.

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature has identified the need in Ulster County for expanded ambulance and emergency services and assistance in providing timely emergency, non-emergency, and tertiary care transportation that is not always readily available in Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, entities not presently operating in Ulster County seeking to extend their service area to include Ulster County must apply to the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) for a Certificate of Need and a determination of “public need”; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature acknowledges that NYS DOH Policy Statement 06-06 has defined “public need” as “the demonstrated absence, reduced availability or an inadequate level of care in ambulance or emergency medical service available to a geographic area which is not readily correctable through the reallocation or improvement of existing resources” and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature, upon due consideration, finds that there is a “public need” for expanded ambulance and/or emergency medical services, including emergency services responding to 911 calls, to address the needs of the people of Ulster County; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature urges the NYS DOH to issue a “Certificate of Need” on the application of any competent, reputable and qualified service provider to extend its service area to include Ulster County; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall forward copies

of this resolution to the New York State Department of Health, to the Ulster County Executive, to the Ulster County Commissioner of Health, to Governor Hochul, and all Ulster County elected State Assemblymembers and Senators, 

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:      

Passed Committee: Law Enforcement and Public Safety on ________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE