New York Senator Charles Schumer warns that ambulance crews are threatened with the loss of critical funding.
At stake is $40 million in Medicaid payments statewide used to pay for ambulance services. He says that critical funding will expire Jan. 1 if Congress doesn't act first.
The Democrat says that without action, urban ambulances will lose 2 percent of their federal funding and rural services will lose 3 percent.
Schumer says ambulance crews say the funding is vital. He is proposing a five-year extension of the funding.
An officer with the American Ambulance Association says the funding is needed for financial stability and to replace old equipment and update technology.
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