Ambulette companies in Westchester County refuse to transport Medicaid patients, leading to cancellations of appointments

On Monday, ambulette companies in Westchester County refused to transport Medicaid patients due to a disagreement over reimbursement rates. Premier Transportation in New Rochelle, one of the affected companies, cited rising costs and low reimbursements. This led to canceled medical appointments and left patients stranded. The New York State Department of Health proposed using out-of-county providers to fill the void, but the situation remained unresolved. The dispute has impacted hundreds of patients, including those receiving dialysis and chemotherapy treatments. Some individuals, like Paul Wool, had to rearrange their schedules and incur financial losses as a result of the lack of transport services. As of late Monday, seven ambulette companies had ceased operations in Westchester, causing a ripple effect into neighboring areas like the Bronx. The duration of the standoff and the extent of its effects remain uncertain, with providers calling for discussions to resolve the issue. Amidst this chaos, Tony Aiello from CBS2 has been reporting on the situation, shedding light on the challenges faced by patients and service providers in the region.

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