YONKERS, N.Y. -- About a dozen companies responsible for critical medical transportation services across Westchester County shut down Friday.This after it says the New York state Department of Health isn't fairly reimbursing them.Ambulettes may not be for emergencies, but they're crucial for Medicaid patients, like Yonkers resident Darryl Thomas, who uses a wheelchair and is on dialysis. He uses the service seven days a week.
State and local lawmakers have been pushing for change for years. Since 2019, at least 35 ambulette companies across the New York metro area have shut down. Public transportation isn't an option for these Medicaid patients on a fixed social security income, like New Rochelle resident BT Hooper.'Just give them the reimbursement ... So they can pay insurance. Because if they can't pay insurance, then that means that their team is gonna have to come out-of-pocket,' he said.