Bill Text: IL HB2778 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that a currently licensed EMT may perform emergency and non-emergency medical services in accordance with his or her level of education, training, and licensure, regardless of the level (BLS, ILS, or ALS) of the ambulance to which he or she is assigned when performing those services.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 10-4)

Status: (Passed) 2013-12-27 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 98-0608 [HB2778 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HB2778-Chaptered.html

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Public Act 098-0608
HB2778 Enrolled LRB098 09574 DRJ 39720 b
AN ACT concerning regulation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act
is amended by adding Section 3.87 as follows:
(210 ILCS 50/3.87 new)
Sec. 3.87. Ambulance service upgrades; rural population.
(a) In this Section, "rural ambulance service provider"
means an ambulance service provider licensed under this Act
that serves a rural population of 7,500 or fewer inhabitants.
(b) A rural ambulance service provider may submit a
proposal to the EMS System Medical Director requesting approval
of either or both of the following:
(1) Rural ambulance service provider in-field service
level upgrade.
(A) An ambulance operated by a rural ambulance
service provider may be upgraded, as defined by the EMS
System Medical Director in a policy or procedure, as
long as the EMS System Medical Director and the
Department have approved the proposal, to the highest
level of EMT license (advanced life support/paramedic,
intermediate life support, or basic life support) held
by any person staffing that ambulance. The ambulance

service provider's proposal for an upgrade must
include all of the following:
(i) The manner in which the provider will
secure advanced life support equipment, supplies,
and medications.
(ii) The type of quality assurance the
provider will perform.
(iii) An assurance that the provider will
advertise only the level of care that can be
provided 24 hours a day.
(B) If a rural ambulance service provider is
approved to provide an in-field service level upgrade
based on the licensed personnel on the vehicle, all the
advanced life support medical supplies, durable
medical equipment, and medications must be secured and
locked with access by only the personnel who have been
authorized by the EMS System Medical Director to
utilize those supplies.
(C) The EMS System shall routinely perform quality
assurance, in compliance with the EMS System's quality
assurance plan approved by the Department, on in-field
service level upgrades authorized under this Section
to ensure compliance with the EMS System plan.
(2) Rural ambulance service provider in-field service
level upgrade. The EMS System Medical Director may define
what constitutes an in-field service level upgrade through

an EMS System policy or procedure. An in-field service
level upgrade may include, but need not be limited to, an
upgrade to a licensed ambulance, alternate response
vehicle as defined by the Department in rules, or
specialized emergency medical services vehicle.
(c) If the EMS System Medical Director approves a proposal
for a rural in-field service level upgrade under this Section,
he or she shall submit the proposal to the Department along
with a statement of approval signed by him or her. Once the
Department has approved the proposal, the rural ambulance
service provider will be authorized to function at the highest
level of EMT license (advanced life support/paramedic,
intermediate life support, or basic life support) held by any
person staffing the vehicle.