ALBANY, NY (WENY)-- At a time when health care costs are increasing, some New York State lawmakers are urging the Governor to sign legislation that would establish a direct pay model from health insurers to ambulance providers for out of network claims. 

Some lawmakers said out of network claims often result in ambulance providers not being paid--some losing thousands of dollars.

“Whether it’s private, whether it’s not for profit, whether it’s public, all of these providers are being treated the same way unfairly,” said Assembly Member John McDonald (D-Assembly District 108).

Assembly Member McDonald said insurance providers many times send a check for out of network claims to patients for them to pay their providers directly. But not everyone pays their providers. 

Some ambulance providers said not receiving these funds from out of network claims puts a significant financial burden on them and their ability to operate especially with increasing call volumes. 

“It’s very very costly and without recouping these funds that go directly back to the patients, it hurts. It’s very difficult for us to help our employees,” said David Gardner, Operations Manager, Mohawk Ambulance Service.

Gardner said this legislation could also improve patient care. 

“And I think this would definitely help all the agencies increase their staffing, increase their equipment, increase the number of ambulances that they have on the road at any given time, and it would actually help speed up the service that we give to the communities,” he said.