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knockatize t1_j9obvu2 wrote

Lots of “frequent flyers” out there who call for an ambulance any time they have the sniffles. The EMTs know the addresses by heart. Could be hypochondriacs, addicts, or just plain old idiots like people with COPD who continue to smoke.

They typically don’t pay so the taxpayer eats the cost.

Anybody know what FDNY frequent flyer policy is, if they have one? Or is it “you call, we haul” and who cares what the cost to taxpayers and legit patients is?

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Grass8989 t1_j9oezpq wrote

Yup, correct. Ask any EMS worker how many of their 911 transports are truly emergencies. People treat ambulances like taxis, and it’s the people who do the right thing that eat the cost. Granted, most of the “frequent flyers” have Medicaid (they pay nothing regardless) so this may be a way for the city to try to get Medicaid reimbursements up from these people.

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scienceguy43 t1_j9rd9st wrote

Literally like taxis. There are people who call an ambulance to get them across town because it is cheaper than Uber.

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wanderaxb t1_j9qaewg wrote

This is interesting. I once called 911 for a violent homeless man on a subway platform and they said they’d dispatch an ambulance and not police. Kinda felt like EMTs wouldn’t be equipped for the violent aspect, and police wouldn’t be equipped for the potentially mentally ill aspect. I wonder if cases like this affect emergency response efficiency and cost.

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