RuralServ

New York State Ambulance Services in Rural Areas

NYS has unique requirements for the payment of paramedic intercept services when an ambulance company can provide only BLS services. Paramedic intercept services can be approved in counties and towns which are designated rural by the New York State Department of Health.

The NYS definition of a rural area is defined in state Public Health Law and often referred to as “Eberts’ typology.” It identifies those counties and towns that may be considered rural according to population density.

Counties are rural if the county's total population is less than 200,000 or, in the case of a town, its population density is less than 200 persons per square mile, or, with the approval of the Commissioner of Health, a population density of between 200 and 250 persons per square mile.

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Revised 9/11/2024