Bill Text: IL SB0761 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Enrolled
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Further amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. In provisions concerning scope of practice, provides that an EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, PHRN, PHAPRN, or PHPA shall be eligible to work for another EMS System for a period not to exceed 2 weeks, if they meet specified requirements. Provides that the membership of the EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task Force shall include 2 EMS Medical Directors appointed by the Governor and makes other changes to the appointing authority for certain members of the Task Force. Provides that the EMS personnel licensed at the highest level shall provide the initial assessment of the patient to determine the level of care required for transport to the receiving health care facility, and that assessment shall be documented in the patient care report and documented with online medical control. Provides that the EMS personnel licensed at or above the level of care required by the specific patient as directed by the EMS Medical Director shall be the primary care provider en route to the destination facility or patient's residence. Sets forth provisions concerning EMS System Program Plan deployments for out-of-state disasters. Sets forth provisions concerning quality assurance reports. Sets forth provisions concerning a pilot program beginning July 1, 2023 that shall not exceed a term of 3 years. Removes provisions concerning an EMS Lead Instructor. Makes other changes. Provides an immediate effective date.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2023-08-11 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0547 [SB0761 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2023-SB0761-Enrolled.html
Bill Title: Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Further amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. In provisions concerning scope of practice, provides that an EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, PHRN, PHAPRN, or PHPA shall be eligible to work for another EMS System for a period not to exceed 2 weeks, if they meet specified requirements. Provides that the membership of the EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task Force shall include 2 EMS Medical Directors appointed by the Governor and makes other changes to the appointing authority for certain members of the Task Force. Provides that the EMS personnel licensed at the highest level shall provide the initial assessment of the patient to determine the level of care required for transport to the receiving health care facility, and that assessment shall be documented in the patient care report and documented with online medical control. Provides that the EMS personnel licensed at or above the level of care required by the specific patient as directed by the EMS Medical Director shall be the primary care provider en route to the destination facility or patient's residence. Sets forth provisions concerning EMS System Program Plan deployments for out-of-state disasters. Sets forth provisions concerning quality assurance reports. Sets forth provisions concerning a pilot program beginning July 1, 2023 that shall not exceed a term of 3 years. Removes provisions concerning an EMS Lead Instructor. Makes other changes. Provides an immediate effective date.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2023-08-11 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0547 [SB0761 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2023-SB0761-Enrolled.html
| |||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | AN ACT concerning regulation.
| ||||||
2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||||
3 | represented in the General Assembly:
| ||||||
4 | Section 5. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems | ||||||
5 | Act is amended by changing Sections 3.20, 3.55, and 3.85 and by | ||||||
6 | adding Section 3.22 as follows:
| ||||||
7 | (210 ILCS 50/3.20)
| ||||||
8 | Sec. 3.20. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems. | ||||||
9 | (a) "Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System" means an
| ||||||
10 | organization of hospitals, vehicle service providers and
| ||||||
11 | personnel approved by the Department in a specific
geographic | ||||||
12 | area, which coordinates and provides pre-hospital
and | ||||||
13 | inter-hospital emergency care and non-emergency medical
| ||||||
14 | transports at a BLS, ILS and/or ALS level pursuant to a
System | ||||||
15 | program plan submitted to and approved by the
Department, and | ||||||
16 | pursuant to the EMS Region Plan adopted for
the EMS Region in | ||||||
17 | which the System is located. | ||||||
18 | (b) One hospital in each System program plan must be
| ||||||
19 | designated as the Resource Hospital. All other hospitals
which | ||||||
20 | are located within the geographic boundaries of a
System and | ||||||
21 | which have standby, basic or comprehensive level
emergency | ||||||
22 | departments must function in that EMS System as
either an | ||||||
23 | Associate Hospital or Participating Hospital and
follow all |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | System policies specified in the System Program
Plan, | ||||||
2 | including but not limited to the replacement of drugs
and | ||||||
3 | equipment used by providers who have delivered patients
to | ||||||
4 | their emergency departments. All hospitals and vehicle
service | ||||||
5 | providers participating in an EMS System must
specify their | ||||||
6 | level of participation in the System Program
Plan. | ||||||
7 | (c) The Department shall have the authority and
| ||||||
8 | responsibility to: | ||||||
9 | (1) Approve BLS, ILS and ALS level EMS Systems which
| ||||||
10 | meet minimum standards and criteria established in rules
| ||||||
11 | adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, including
| ||||||
12 | the submission of a Program Plan for Department approval.
| ||||||
13 | Beginning September 1, 1997, the Department shall approve
| ||||||
14 | the development of a new EMS System only when a local or
| ||||||
15 | regional need for establishing such System has been
| ||||||
16 | verified by the Department. This shall not be construed as | ||||||
17 | a needs assessment for health
planning or
other purposes | ||||||
18 | outside of this Act.
Following Department approval, EMS | ||||||
19 | Systems must
be fully operational within one year from the | ||||||
20 | date of
approval. | ||||||
21 | (2) Monitor EMS Systems, based on minimum standards | ||||||
22 | for
continuing operation as prescribed in rules adopted by | ||||||
23 | the
Department pursuant to this Act, which shall include
| ||||||
24 | requirements for submitting Program Plan amendments to the
| ||||||
25 | Department for approval. | ||||||
26 | (3) Renew EMS System approvals every 4 years, after
an |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | inspection, based on compliance with the standards for
| ||||||
2 | continuing operation prescribed in rules adopted by the
| ||||||
3 | Department pursuant to this Act. | ||||||
4 | (4) Suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew approval of
| ||||||
5 | any EMS System, after providing an opportunity for a
| ||||||
6 | hearing, when findings show that it does not meet the
| ||||||
7 | minimum standards for continuing operation as prescribed | ||||||
8 | by
the Department, or is found to be in violation of its
| ||||||
9 | previously approved Program Plan. | ||||||
10 | (5) Require each EMS System to adopt written protocols
| ||||||
11 | for the bypassing of or diversion to any hospital, trauma
| ||||||
12 | center or regional trauma center, which provide that a | ||||||
13 | person
shall not be transported to a facility other than | ||||||
14 | the nearest
hospital, regional trauma center or trauma | ||||||
15 | center unless the
medical benefits to the patient | ||||||
16 | reasonably expected from the
provision of appropriate | ||||||
17 | medical treatment at a more distant
facility outweigh the | ||||||
18 | increased risks to the patient from
transport to the more | ||||||
19 | distant facility, or the transport is in
accordance with | ||||||
20 | the System's protocols for patient
choice or refusal. | ||||||
21 | (6) Require that the EMS Medical Director of an ILS or
| ||||||
22 | ALS level EMS System be a physician licensed to practice
| ||||||
23 | medicine in all of its branches in Illinois, and certified | ||||||
24 | by
the American Board of Emergency Medicine or the | ||||||
25 | American Osteopathic Board
of Emergency Medicine, and that | ||||||
26 | the EMS Medical
Director of a BLS level EMS System be a |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | physician licensed to
practice medicine in all of its | ||||||
2 | branches in Illinois, with
regular and frequent | ||||||
3 | involvement in pre-hospital emergency
medical services. In | ||||||
4 | addition, all EMS Medical Directors shall: | ||||||
5 | (A) Have experience on an EMS vehicle at the
| ||||||
6 | highest level available within the System, or make | ||||||
7 | provision
to gain such experience within 12 months | ||||||
8 | prior to the
date responsibility for the System is | ||||||
9 | assumed or within 90
days after assuming the position; | ||||||
10 | (B) Be thoroughly knowledgeable of all skills
| ||||||
11 | included in the scope of practices of all levels of EMS
| ||||||
12 | personnel within the System; | ||||||
13 | (C) Have or make provision to gain experience
| ||||||
14 | instructing students at a level similar to that of the | ||||||
15 | levels
of EMS personnel within the System; and | ||||||
16 | (D) For ILS and ALS EMS Medical Directors,
| ||||||
17 | successfully complete a Department-approved EMS | ||||||
18 | Medical
Director's Course. | ||||||
19 | (7) Prescribe statewide EMS data elements to be
| ||||||
20 | collected and documented by providers in all EMS Systems | ||||||
21 | for
all emergency and non-emergency medical services, with | ||||||
22 | a
one-year phase-in for commencing collection of such data
| ||||||
23 | elements. | ||||||
24 | (8) Define, through rules adopted pursuant to this | ||||||
25 | Act,
the terms "Resource Hospital", "Associate Hospital",
| ||||||
26 | "Participating Hospital", "Basic Emergency Department",
|
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | "Standby Emergency Department", "Comprehensive Emergency | ||||||
2 | Department", "EMS
Medical Director", "EMS Administrative
| ||||||
3 | Director", and "EMS System Coordinator". | ||||||
4 | (A) (Blank). | ||||||
5 | (B) (Blank). | ||||||
6 | (9) Investigate the
circumstances that caused a | ||||||
7 | hospital
in an EMS system
to go on
bypass status to | ||||||
8 | determine whether that hospital's decision to go on bypass
| ||||||
9 | status was reasonable. The Department may impose | ||||||
10 | sanctions, as
set forth in Section 3.140 of the Act, upon a | ||||||
11 | Department determination that the
hospital unreasonably
| ||||||
12 | went on bypass status in violation of the Act. | ||||||
13 | (10) Evaluate the capacity and performance of any | ||||||
14 | freestanding emergency center established under Section | ||||||
15 | 32.5 of this Act in meeting emergency medical service | ||||||
16 | needs of the public, including compliance with applicable | ||||||
17 | emergency medical standards and assurance of the | ||||||
18 | availability of and immediate access to the highest | ||||||
19 | quality of medical care possible.
| ||||||
20 | (11) Permit limited EMS System participation by | ||||||
21 | facilities operated by the United States Department of | ||||||
22 | Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration. Subject | ||||||
23 | to patient preference, Illinois EMS providers may | ||||||
24 | transport patients to Veterans Health Administration | ||||||
25 | facilities that voluntarily participate in an EMS System. | ||||||
26 | Any Veterans Health Administration facility seeking |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | limited participation in an EMS System shall agree to | ||||||
2 | comply with all Department administrative rules | ||||||
3 | implementing this Section. The Department may promulgate | ||||||
4 | rules, including, but not limited to, the types of | ||||||
5 | Veterans Health Administration facilities that may | ||||||
6 | participate in an EMS System and the limitations of | ||||||
7 | participation. | ||||||
8 | (12) Ensure that EMS systems are transporting pregnant | ||||||
9 | women to the appropriate facilities based on the | ||||||
10 | classification of the levels of maternal care described | ||||||
11 | under subsection (a) of Section 2310-223 of the Department | ||||||
12 | of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil | ||||||
13 | Administrative Code of Illinois. | ||||||
14 | (13) Provide administrative support to the EMT | ||||||
15 | Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task Force. | ||||||
16 | (Source: P.A. 101-447, eff. 8-23-19.)
| ||||||
17 | (210 ILCS 50/3.22 new) | ||||||
18 | Sec. 3.22. EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task | ||||||
19 | Force. | ||||||
20 | (a) The EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task | ||||||
21 | Force is created to address the following: | ||||||
22 | (1) the impact that the EMT and Paramedic shortage is | ||||||
23 | having on this State's EMS System and health care system; | ||||||
24 | (2) barriers to the training, recruitment, and | ||||||
25 | retention of Emergency Medical Technicians throughout this |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | State; | ||||||
2 | (3) steps that the State of Illinois can take, | ||||||
3 | including coordination and identification of State and | ||||||
4 | federal funding sources, to assist Illinois high schools, | ||||||
5 | community colleges, and ground ambulance providers to | ||||||
6 | train, recruit, and retain emergency medical technicians; | ||||||
7 | (4) the examination of current testing mechanisms for | ||||||
8 | EMRs, EMTs, and Paramedics and the utilization of the | ||||||
9 | National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, | ||||||
10 | including current pass rates by licensure level, national | ||||||
11 | utilization, and test preparation strategies; | ||||||
12 | (5) how apprenticeship programs, local, regional, and | ||||||
13 | statewide, can be utilized to recruit and retain EMRs, | ||||||
14 | EMTs, and Paramedics; | ||||||
15 | (6) how ground ambulance reimbursement affects the | ||||||
16 | recruitment and retention of EMTs and Paramedics; and | ||||||
17 | (7) all other areas that the Task Force deems | ||||||
18 | necessary to examine and assist in the recruitment and | ||||||
19 | retention of EMTs and Paramedics. | ||||||
20 | (b) The Task Force shall be comprised of the following | ||||||
21 | members: | ||||||
22 | (1) one member of the Illinois General Assembly, | ||||||
23 | appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall serve | ||||||
24 | as co-chair; | ||||||
25 | (2) one member of the Illinois General Assembly, | ||||||
26 | appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (3) one member of the Illinois General Assembly, | ||||||
2 | appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; | ||||||
3 | (4) one member of the Illinois General Assembly, | ||||||
4 | appointed by the House Minority Leader, who shall serve as | ||||||
5 | co-chair; | ||||||
6 | (5) 9 members representing private ground ambulance | ||||||
7 | providers throughout this State representing for-profit | ||||||
8 | and non-profit rural and urban ground ambulance providers, | ||||||
9 | appointed by the President of the Senate; | ||||||
10 | (6) 3 members representing hospitals, appointed by the | ||||||
11 | Speaker of the House of Representatives, with one member | ||||||
12 | representing safety net hospitals and one member | ||||||
13 | representing rural hospitals; | ||||||
14 | (7) 3 members representing a statewide association of | ||||||
15 | nursing homes, appointed by the President of the Senate; | ||||||
16 | (8) one member representing the State Board of | ||||||
17 | Education, appointed by the House Minority Leader; | ||||||
18 | (9) 2 EMS Medical Directors from a Regional EMS | ||||||
19 | Medical Directors Committee, appointed by the Governor; | ||||||
20 | and | ||||||
21 | (10) one member representing the Illinois Community | ||||||
22 | College Systems, appointed by the Minority Leader of the | ||||||
23 | Senate. | ||||||
24 | (c) Members of the Task Force shall serve without | ||||||
25 | compensation. | ||||||
26 | (d) The Task Force shall convene at the call of the |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | co-chairs and shall hold at least 6 meetings. | ||||||
2 | (e) The Task Force shall submit its final report to the | ||||||
3 | General Assembly and the Governor no later than January 1, | ||||||
4 | 2024, and upon the submission of its final report, the Task | ||||||
5 | Force shall be dissolved.
| ||||||
6 | (210 ILCS 50/3.55)
| ||||||
7 | Sec. 3.55. Scope of practice.
| ||||||
8 | (a) Any person currently licensed as an EMR, EMT, EMT-I,
| ||||||
9 | A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic may perform emergency | ||||||
10 | and non-emergency medical
services as defined in this Act, in | ||||||
11 | accordance with his or her level of
education, training and | ||||||
12 | licensure, the standards of
performance and conduct prescribed | ||||||
13 | by the Department in
rules adopted pursuant to this Act, and | ||||||
14 | the requirements of
the EMS System in which he or she | ||||||
15 | practices, as contained in the
approved Program Plan for that | ||||||
16 | System. The Director may, by written order, temporarily modify | ||||||
17 | individual scopes of practice in response to public health | ||||||
18 | emergencies for periods not exceeding 180 days.
| ||||||
19 | (a-5) EMS personnel who have successfully completed a | ||||||
20 | Department approved
course in automated defibrillator | ||||||
21 | operation and who are functioning within a
Department approved | ||||||
22 | EMS System may utilize such automated defibrillator
according | ||||||
23 | to the standards of performance and conduct prescribed by the
| ||||||
24 | Department
in rules adopted pursuant to this Act and the | ||||||
25 | requirements of the EMS System in
which they practice, as |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | contained in the approved Program Plan for that
System.
| ||||||
2 | (a-7) An EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or | ||||||
3 | Paramedic
who has successfully completed a Department approved | ||||||
4 | course in the
administration of epinephrine shall be required | ||||||
5 | to carry epinephrine
with him or her as part of the EMS | ||||||
6 | personnel medical supplies whenever
he or she is performing | ||||||
7 | official duties as determined by the EMS System. The | ||||||
8 | epinephrine may be administered from a glass vial, | ||||||
9 | auto-injector, ampule, or pre-filled syringe.
| ||||||
10 | (b) An EMR, EMT,
EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or | ||||||
11 | Paramedic may practice as an EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, or | ||||||
12 | Paramedic or utilize his or her EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN, | ||||||
13 | PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic license
in pre-hospital or | ||||||
14 | inter-hospital emergency care settings or
non-emergency | ||||||
15 | medical transport situations, under the
written or verbal | ||||||
16 | direction of the EMS Medical Director.
For purposes of this | ||||||
17 | Section, a "pre-hospital emergency care
setting" may include a | ||||||
18 | location, that is not a health care
facility, which utilizes | ||||||
19 | EMS personnel to render pre-hospital
emergency care prior to | ||||||
20 | the arrival of a transport vehicle.
The location shall include | ||||||
21 | communication equipment and all
of the portable equipment and | ||||||
22 | drugs appropriate for the EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, or | ||||||
23 | Paramedic's
level of care, as required by this Act, rules | ||||||
24 | adopted
by the Department pursuant to this Act, and the | ||||||
25 | protocols of
the EMS Systems, and shall operate only with the | ||||||
26 | approval
and under the direction of the EMS Medical Director.
|
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | This Section shall not prohibit an EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, | ||||||
2 | PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic
from practicing within an | ||||||
3 | emergency department or
other health care setting for the | ||||||
4 | purpose of receiving
continuing education or training approved | ||||||
5 | by the EMS Medical
Director. This Section shall also not | ||||||
6 | prohibit an EMT,
EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or | ||||||
7 | Paramedic from seeking credentials other than his or her EMT, | ||||||
8 | EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic
license and | ||||||
9 | utilizing such credentials to work in emergency
departments or | ||||||
10 | other health care settings under the
jurisdiction of that | ||||||
11 | employer.
| ||||||
12 | (c) An EMT,
EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic | ||||||
13 | may honor Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders and powers
of | ||||||
14 | attorney for health care only in accordance with rules
adopted | ||||||
15 | by the Department pursuant to this Act and protocols
of the EMS | ||||||
16 | System in which he or she practices.
| ||||||
17 | (d) A student enrolled in a Department approved EMS | ||||||
18 | personnel
program, while fulfilling the
clinical training and | ||||||
19 | in-field supervised experience
requirements mandated for | ||||||
20 | licensure or approval by the
System and the Department, may | ||||||
21 | perform prescribed procedures
under the direct supervision of | ||||||
22 | a physician licensed to
practice medicine in all of its | ||||||
23 | branches, a qualified
registered professional nurse, or | ||||||
24 | qualified EMS personnel, only when
authorized by the EMS | ||||||
25 | Medical Director.
| ||||||
26 | (e) An EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | Paramedic may transport a police dog injured in the line of | ||||||
2 | duty to a veterinary clinic or similar facility if there are no | ||||||
3 | persons requiring medical attention or transport at that time. | ||||||
4 | For the purposes of this subsection, "police dog" means a dog | ||||||
5 | owned or used by a law enforcement department or agency in the | ||||||
6 | course of the department or agency's work, including a search | ||||||
7 | and rescue dog, service dog, accelerant detection canine, or | ||||||
8 | other dog that is in use by a county, municipal, or State law | ||||||
9 | enforcement agency. | ||||||
10 | (f) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit an | ||||||
11 | EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, or PHRN from completing an | ||||||
12 | initial Occupational Safety and Health Administration | ||||||
13 | Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire on behalf of fire | ||||||
14 | service personnel, as permitted by his or her EMS System | ||||||
15 | Medical Director. | ||||||
16 | (g) An EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, PHRN, PHAPRN, or PHPA | ||||||
17 | shall be eligible to work for another EMS System for a period | ||||||
18 | not to exceed 2 weeks if the individual is under the direct | ||||||
19 | supervision of another licensed individual operating at the | ||||||
20 | same or higher level as the EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, | ||||||
21 | PHRN, PHAPRN, or PHPA; obtained approval in writing from the | ||||||
22 | EMS System's Medical Director; and tests into the EMS System | ||||||
23 | based upon appropriate standards as outlined in the EMS System | ||||||
24 | Program Plan. The EMS System within which the EMT, EMT-I, | ||||||
25 | A-EMT, Paramedic, PHRN, PHAPRN, or PHPA is seeking to join | ||||||
26 | must make all required testing available to the EMT, EMT-I, |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | A-EMT, Paramedic, PHRN, PHAPRN, or PHPA within 2 weeks after | ||||||
2 | the written request. Failure to do so by the EMS System shall | ||||||
3 | allow the EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, PHRN, PHAPRN, or PHPA | ||||||
4 | to continue working for another EMS System until all required | ||||||
5 | testing becomes available. | ||||||
6 | (Source: P.A. 102-79, eff. 1-1-22 .)
| ||||||
7 | (210 ILCS 50/3.85)
| ||||||
8 | Sec. 3.85. Vehicle Service Providers.
| ||||||
9 | (a) "Vehicle Service Provider" means an entity
licensed by | ||||||
10 | the Department to provide emergency or
non-emergency medical | ||||||
11 | services in compliance with this Act,
the rules promulgated by | ||||||
12 | the Department pursuant to this
Act, and an operational plan | ||||||
13 | approved by its EMS System(s),
utilizing at least ambulances | ||||||
14 | or specialized emergency
medical service vehicles (SEMSV).
| ||||||
15 | (1) "Ambulance" means any publicly or
privately owned | ||||||
16 | on-road vehicle that is specifically designed,
constructed | ||||||
17 | or modified and equipped, and is intended to be
used for, | ||||||
18 | and is maintained or operated for the emergency
| ||||||
19 | transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded | ||||||
20 | or
otherwise incapacitated or helpless, or the | ||||||
21 | non-emergency
medical transportation of persons who | ||||||
22 | require the presence
of medical personnel to monitor the | ||||||
23 | individual's condition
or medical apparatus being used on | ||||||
24 | such individuals.
| ||||||
25 | (2) "Specialized Emergency Medical Services
Vehicle" |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | or "SEMSV" means a vehicle or conveyance, other
than those | ||||||
2 | owned or operated by the federal government, that
is | ||||||
3 | primarily intended for use in transporting the sick or
| ||||||
4 | injured by means of air, water, or ground transportation,
| ||||||
5 | that is not an ambulance as defined in this Act. The term
| ||||||
6 | includes watercraft, aircraft and special purpose ground
| ||||||
7 | transport vehicles or conveyances not intended for use on
| ||||||
8 | public roads.
| ||||||
9 | (3) An ambulance or SEMSV may also be
designated as a | ||||||
10 | Limited Operation Vehicle or Special-Use Vehicle:
| ||||||
11 | (A) "Limited Operation Vehicle" means a
vehicle | ||||||
12 | which is licensed by the Department to provide
basic, | ||||||
13 | intermediate or advanced life support emergency or
| ||||||
14 | non-emergency medical services that are exclusively | ||||||
15 | limited
to specific events or locales.
| ||||||
16 | (B) "Special-Use Vehicle" means any
publicly or | ||||||
17 | privately owned vehicle that is specifically designed,
| ||||||
18 | constructed or modified and equipped, and is intended | ||||||
19 | to be
used for, and is maintained or operated solely | ||||||
20 | for the
emergency or non-emergency transportation of a | ||||||
21 | specific
medical class or category of persons who are | ||||||
22 | sick, injured,
wounded or otherwise incapacitated or | ||||||
23 | helpless (e.g.
high-risk obstetrical patients, | ||||||
24 | neonatal patients).
| ||||||
25 | (C) "Reserve Ambulance" means a vehicle that meets | ||||||
26 | all criteria set forth in this Section and all |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | Department rules, except for the required inventory of | ||||||
2 | medical supplies and durable medical equipment, which | ||||||
3 | may be rapidly transferred from a fully functional | ||||||
4 | ambulance to a reserve ambulance without the use of | ||||||
5 | tools or special mechanical expertise. | ||||||
6 | (b) The Department shall have the authority and
| ||||||
7 | responsibility to:
| ||||||
8 | (1) Require all Vehicle Service Providers, both
| ||||||
9 | publicly and privately owned, to function within an EMS
| ||||||
10 | System.
| ||||||
11 | (2) Require a Vehicle Service Provider
utilizing | ||||||
12 | ambulances to have a primary affiliation with an EMS | ||||||
13 | System
within the EMS Region in which its Primary Service | ||||||
14 | Area is
located, which is the geographic areas in which | ||||||
15 | the provider
renders the majority of its emergency | ||||||
16 | responses. This
requirement shall not apply to Vehicle | ||||||
17 | Service Providers
which exclusively utilize Limited | ||||||
18 | Operation Vehicles.
| ||||||
19 | (3) Establish licensing standards and
requirements for | ||||||
20 | Vehicle Service Providers, through rules
adopted pursuant | ||||||
21 | to this Act, including but not limited to:
| ||||||
22 | (A) Vehicle design, specification,
operation and | ||||||
23 | maintenance standards, including standards for the use | ||||||
24 | of reserve ambulances;
| ||||||
25 | (B) Equipment requirements;
| ||||||
26 | (C) Staffing requirements; and
|
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (D) License renewal at intervals determined by the | ||||||
2 | Department, which shall be not less than every 4 | ||||||
3 | years. | ||||||
4 | The Department's standards and requirements with | ||||||
5 | respect to vehicle staffing for private, nonpublic local | ||||||
6 | government employers must allow for alternative staffing | ||||||
7 | models that include an EMR who
drives an ambulance with a | ||||||
8 | licensed EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT,
Paramedic, or PHRN, as | ||||||
9 | appropriate, in the patient
compartment providing care to | ||||||
10 | the patient pursuant to the approval of the EMS System | ||||||
11 | Program Plan developed and approved by the EMS Medical | ||||||
12 | Director for an EMS System. The EMS personnel licensed at | ||||||
13 | the highest level shall provide the initial assessment of | ||||||
14 | the patient to determine the level of care required for | ||||||
15 | transport to the receiving health care facility, and this | ||||||
16 | assessment shall be documented in the patient care report | ||||||
17 | and documented with online medical control. The EMS | ||||||
18 | personnel licensed at or above the level of care required | ||||||
19 | by the specific patient as directed by the EMS Medical | ||||||
20 | Director shall be the primary care provider en route to | ||||||
21 | the destination facility or patient's residence. The | ||||||
22 | Department shall monitor the implementation and | ||||||
23 | performance of alternative staffing models and may issue a | ||||||
24 | notice of termination of an alternative staffing model | ||||||
25 | only upon evidence that an EMS System Program Plan is not | ||||||
26 | being adhered to. Adoption of an alternative staffing |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | model shall not result in a Vehicle Service Provider being | ||||||
2 | prohibited or limited in the utilization of its staff or | ||||||
3 | equipment from providing any of the services authorized by | ||||||
4 | this Act or as otherwise outlined in the approved EMS | ||||||
5 | System Program Plan, including, without limitation, the | ||||||
6 | deployment of resources to provide out-of-state disaster | ||||||
7 | response. EMS System Program Plans must address a process | ||||||
8 | for out-of-state disaster response deployments that must | ||||||
9 | meet the following: | ||||||
10 | (A) All deployments to provide out-of-state | ||||||
11 | disaster response must first be approved by the EMS | ||||||
12 | Medical Director and submitted to the Department. | ||||||
13 | (B) The submission must include the number of | ||||||
14 | units being deployed, vehicle identification numbers, | ||||||
15 | length of deployment, and names of personnel and their | ||||||
16 | licensure level. | ||||||
17 | (C) Ensure that all necessary in-state requests | ||||||
18 | for services will be covered during the duration of | ||||||
19 | the deployment. | ||||||
20 | An EMS System Program Plan for a Basic Life Support , | ||||||
21 | advanced life support, and critical care transport
| ||||||
22 | utilizing an EMR and an EMT shall include the
following: | ||||||
23 | (A) Alternative staffing models for a Basic Life | ||||||
24 | Support transport utilizing an EMR and an EMT shall | ||||||
25 | only be utilized for interfacility Basic Life Support | ||||||
26 | transports as specified by the EMS System Program Plan |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | as determined by the EMS System Medical Director and | ||||||
2 | medical appointments, excluding any transport to or | ||||||
3 | from a dialysis center . | ||||||
4 | (B) Protocols that shall include dispatch | ||||||
5 | procedures to properly screen and assess patients for | ||||||
6 | EMR-staffed transports and EMT-staffed Basic Life | ||||||
7 | Support transport . | ||||||
8 | (C) A requirement that a provider and EMS System | ||||||
9 | shall implement a quality assurance plan that shall | ||||||
10 | include for the initial waiver period the review of at | ||||||
11 | least 5% of total interfacility transports utilizing | ||||||
12 | an EMR with mechanisms outlined to audit dispatch | ||||||
13 | screening , reason for transport, patient diagnosis, | ||||||
14 | level of care, and the outcome of transports | ||||||
15 | performed. Quality assurance reports must be submitted | ||||||
16 | and reviewed by the provider and EMS System monthly | ||||||
17 | and made available to the Department upon request. The | ||||||
18 | percentage of transports reviewed under quality | ||||||
19 | assurance plans for renewal periods shall be | ||||||
20 | determined by the EMS Medical Director, however, it | ||||||
21 | shall not be less than 3%. | ||||||
22 | (D) The EMS System Medical Director shall develop | ||||||
23 | a minimum set of requirements for individuals based on | ||||||
24 | level of licensure that includes education, training, | ||||||
25 | and credentialing for all team members identified to | ||||||
26 | participate in an alternative staffing plan. The EMT , |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | Paramedic, PHRN, PHPA, PHAPRN, and critical care | ||||||
2 | transport staff shall have the minimum at least one | ||||||
3 | year of experience in performance of pre-hospital and | ||||||
4 | inter-hospital emergency care , as determined by the | ||||||
5 | EMS Medical Director in accordance with the EMS System | ||||||
6 | Program Plan, but at a minimum of 6 months of | ||||||
7 | prehospital experience or at least 50 documented | ||||||
8 | patient care interventions during transport as the | ||||||
9 | primary care provider and approved by the Department . | ||||||
10 | (E) The licensed EMR must complete a defensive | ||||||
11 | driving course prior to participation in the | ||||||
12 | Department's alternative staffing model. | ||||||
13 | (F) The length of the EMS System Program Plan for a | ||||||
14 | Basic Life Support transport
utilizing an EMR and an | ||||||
15 | EMT shall be for one year, and must be renewed annually | ||||||
16 | if proof of the criteria being met is submitted, | ||||||
17 | validated, and approved by the EMS Medical Director | ||||||
18 | for the EMS System and the Department. | ||||||
19 | (G) Beginning July 1, 2023, the utilization of | ||||||
20 | EMRs for advanced life support transports and Tier III | ||||||
21 | Critical Care Transports shall be allowed for periods | ||||||
22 | not to exceed 3 years under a pilot program. The pilot | ||||||
23 | program shall not be implemented before Department | ||||||
24 | approval. Agencies requesting to utilize this staffing | ||||||
25 | model for the time period of the pilot program must | ||||||
26 | complete the following: |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (i) Submit a waiver request to the Department | ||||||
2 | requesting to participate in the pilot program | ||||||
3 | with specific details of how quality assurance and | ||||||
4 | improvement will be gathered, measured, reported | ||||||
5 | to the Department, and reviewed and utilized | ||||||
6 | internally by the participating agency. | ||||||
7 | (ii) Submit a signed approval letter from the | ||||||
8 | EMS System Medical Director approving | ||||||
9 | participation in the pilot program. | ||||||
10 | (iii) Submit updated EMS System plans, | ||||||
11 | additional education, and training of the EMR and | ||||||
12 | protocols related to the pilot program. | ||||||
13 | (iv) Submit agency policies and procedures | ||||||
14 | related to the pilot program. | ||||||
15 | (v) Submit the number of individuals currently | ||||||
16 | participating and committed to participating in | ||||||
17 | education programs to achieve a higher level of | ||||||
18 | licensure at the time of submission. | ||||||
19 | (vi) Submit an explanation of how the provider | ||||||
20 | will support individuals obtaining a higher level | ||||||
21 | of licensure and encourage a higher level of | ||||||
22 | licensure during the year of the alternative | ||||||
23 | staffing plan and specific examples of recruitment | ||||||
24 | and retention activities or initiatives. | ||||||
25 | Upon submission of a renewal application and | ||||||
26 | recruitment and retention plan, the provider shall |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | include additional data regarding current employment | ||||||
2 | numbers, attrition rates over the year, and activities | ||||||
3 | and initiatives over the previous year to address | ||||||
4 | recruitment and retention. | ||||||
5 | The information required under this subparagraph | ||||||
6 | (G) shall be provided to and retained by the EMS System | ||||||
7 | upon initial application and renewal and shall be | ||||||
8 | provided to the Department upon request. | ||||||
9 | The Department must allow for an alternative rural | ||||||
10 | staffing model for those vehicle service providers that | ||||||
11 | serve a rural or semi-rural population of 10,000 or fewer | ||||||
12 | inhabitants and exclusively uses volunteers, paid-on-call, | ||||||
13 | or a combination thereof.
| ||||||
14 | (4) License all Vehicle Service Providers
that have | ||||||
15 | met the Department's requirements for licensure, unless
| ||||||
16 | such Provider is owned or licensed by the federal
| ||||||
17 | government. All Provider licenses issued by the Department
| ||||||
18 | shall specify the level and type of each vehicle covered | ||||||
19 | by
the license (BLS, ILS, ALS, ambulance, critical care | ||||||
20 | transport, SEMSV, limited
operation vehicle, special use | ||||||
21 | vehicle, reserve ambulance).
| ||||||
22 | (5) Annually inspect all licensed vehicles operated by | ||||||
23 | Vehicle
Service Providers.
| ||||||
24 | (6) Suspend, revoke, refuse to issue or refuse to
| ||||||
25 | renew the license of any Vehicle Service Provider, or that
| ||||||
26 | portion of a license pertaining to a specific vehicle
|
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | operated by the Provider, after an opportunity for a
| ||||||
2 | hearing, when findings show that the Provider or one or | ||||||
3 | more
of its vehicles has failed to comply with the | ||||||
4 | standards and
requirements of this Act or rules adopted by | ||||||
5 | the Department
pursuant to this Act.
| ||||||
6 | (7) Issue an Emergency Suspension Order for
any | ||||||
7 | Provider or vehicle licensed under this Act, when the
| ||||||
8 | Director or his designee has determined that an immediate
| ||||||
9 | and serious danger to the public health, safety and | ||||||
10 | welfare
exists. Suspension or revocation proceedings which | ||||||
11 | offer an
opportunity for hearing shall be promptly | ||||||
12 | initiated after
the Emergency Suspension Order has been | ||||||
13 | issued.
| ||||||
14 | (8) Exempt any licensed vehicle from
subsequent | ||||||
15 | vehicle design standards or specifications required by the
| ||||||
16 | Department, as long as said vehicle is continuously in
| ||||||
17 | compliance with the vehicle design standards and
| ||||||
18 | specifications originally applicable to that vehicle, or
| ||||||
19 | until said vehicle's title of ownership is transferred.
| ||||||
20 | (9) Exempt any vehicle (except an SEMSV)
which was | ||||||
21 | being used as an ambulance on or before December 15,
1980, | ||||||
22 | from vehicle design standards and specifications
required | ||||||
23 | by the Department, until said vehicle's title of
ownership | ||||||
24 | is transferred. Such vehicles shall not be exempt
from all | ||||||
25 | other licensing standards and requirements
prescribed by | ||||||
26 | the Department.
|
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (10) Prohibit any Vehicle Service Provider
from | ||||||
2 | advertising, identifying its vehicles, or disseminating
| ||||||
3 | information in a false or misleading manner concerning the
| ||||||
4 | Provider's type and level of vehicles, location, primary
| ||||||
5 | service area, response times, level of personnel, | ||||||
6 | licensure
status or System participation.
| ||||||
7 | (10.5) Prohibit any Vehicle Service Provider, whether | ||||||
8 | municipal, private, or hospital-owned, from advertising | ||||||
9 | itself as a critical care transport provider unless it | ||||||
10 | participates in a Department-approved EMS System critical | ||||||
11 | care transport plan. | ||||||
12 | (11) Charge each Vehicle Service Provider a
fee per | ||||||
13 | transport vehicle, due annually at time of inspection. The | ||||||
14 | fee per transport vehicle shall be set by administrative | ||||||
15 | rule by the Department and shall not exceed 100 vehicles | ||||||
16 | per provider. | ||||||
17 | (12) Beginning July 1, 2023, as part of a pilot | ||||||
18 | program that shall not exceed a term of 3 years, an | ||||||
19 | ambulance may be upgraded to a higher level of care for | ||||||
20 | interfacility transports by an ambulance assistance | ||||||
21 | vehicle with appropriate equipment and licensed personnel | ||||||
22 | to intercept with the licensed ambulance at the sending | ||||||
23 | facility before departure. The pilot program shall not be | ||||||
24 | implemented before Department approval. To participate in | ||||||
25 | the pilot program, an agency must: | ||||||
26 | (A) Submit a waiver request to the Department with |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | intercept vehicle vehicle identification numbers, | ||||||
2 | calls signs, equipment detail, and a robust quality | ||||||
3 | assurance plan that shall list, at minimum, detailed | ||||||
4 | reasons each intercept had to be completed, barriers | ||||||
5 | to initial dispatch of advanced life support services, | ||||||
6 | and how this benefited the patient. | ||||||
7 | (B) Report to the Department quarterly additional | ||||||
8 | data deemed meaningful by the providing agency along | ||||||
9 | with the data required under subparagraph (A) of this | ||||||
10 | paragraph (12). | ||||||
11 | (C) Obtain a signed letter of approval from the | ||||||
12 | EMS Medical Director allowing for participation in the | ||||||
13 | pilot program. | ||||||
14 | (D) Update EMS System plans and protocols from the | ||||||
15 | pilot program. | ||||||
16 | (E) Update policies and procedures from the | ||||||
17 | agencies participating in the pilot program.
| ||||||
18 | (Source: P.A. 102-623, eff. 8-27-21.)
|