Section 547.100  Definitions

 

Act – the Regional Ambulance Services Law (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 111½, pars. 8301 et seq.) [55 ILCS 110], effective August 27, 1990.

 

Ambulance – any publicly or privately owned vehicle that is specifically designed, constructed or modified and equipped, and is intended to be used for, and is maintained or operated for the emergency transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded or otherwise incapacitated or helpless (Section 4.05 of the Emergency Medical Services Systems Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 111½, pars. 5501 et seq.) [210 ILCS 50]).

 

Board – any Regional Ambulance System Board established pursuant to the Act.  (Section 1003 of the Act)

 

Department – the Illinois Department of Public Health.

 

Designated Shortage Area – a medically underserved area or health manpower shortage area as defined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services or as determined by the Illinois Department of Public Health. (Section 1003 of the Act)

 

Division – the Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety, Department of Public Health.

 

Regional ambulance services – ambulance services used by 2 or more counties. (Section 1003 of the Act)

 

Section 547.200  Referenced Materials

 

The following materials are referenced in this Part:

 

a)         Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 111½, pars. 5501 et seq.) [210 ILCS 50].

 

b)         Emergency Medical Services Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 385).

 

Section 547.300  Eligibility to Apply for Grants  

 

a)         The following counties may qualify for a grant authorized by the Act: two or more contiguous counties

 

1)         Having an aggregate population of 20,000 or fewer persons, or

 

2)         Comprising all counties within a region designated pursuant to Division 5-14 of the Counties Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 34, pars. 5-14001 et seq.) [55 ILCS 5/Division 5-14] and situated within the same region designated pursuant to that Act, or

 

3)         Comprising all counties within a designated shortage area. (Section 1005 of the Act)

 

b)         Counties meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of this Section shall be considered eligible to apply for grants under the Act by:

 

1)         The enactment of appropriate resolutions creating a Regional Ambulance System Board, as provided in Section 1006 of the Act; and

 

2)         Designating the officer or agency to be responsible for administering grant funds; (Section 1005 of the Act) and

 

3)         Submitting an application to the Department in accordance with the requirements of Section 547.500.

 

Section 547.400  Grant Project Requirements

 

a)         Each Board shall conduct an ambulance service needs assessment in the counties under its jurisdiction (Section 1007 of the Act), including the following:

 

1)         The need for a regional ambulance service, including personnel and equipment needs, and the methodology used to determine that need;

 

2)         How the Board plans to meet the need for a regional ambulance service;

 

3)         A description of the existing ambulance services in the counties under the Board's jurisdiction, including private ambulance services.

 

b)         Each Board shall develop a plan for regional ambulance services, including the development of resources and coordination with existing ambulance services.  (Section 1007 of the Act)

 

c)         Regional ambulance services receiving funds under this Part shall provide service to all residents in the counties under the Board's jurisdiction.

 

d)         Regional ambulance services shall comply with all requirements of the Emergency Medical Services Systems Act and the Emergency Medical Services Code.

 

Section 547.500  Application Requirements

 

a)         Applications shall be submitted to the Department at the following address:

 

Regional Ambulance Services Grant Project

Illinois Department of Public Health

Division of Emergency Medical Services

525 W. Jefferson St., 3rd Floor

Springfield, Illinois  62761

 

b)         Applications shall include the following:

 

1)         The officer or agency designated by the regional ambulance service to be responsible for administering grant funds;

 

2)         The results of the needs assessment conducted pursuant to Section 547.400;

 

3)         The organization and responsibilities of the Board;

 

4)         The operations budget of the regional ambulance service, including projections on how and when the regional ambulance service will become self-sufficient, and a description of local financial support or in-kind service;

 

5)         A staffing plan for the regional ambulance service;

 

6)         An agreement by the applicant to ensure that the requirements of the Emergency Medical Services Systems Act will be met;

 

7)         A description of the proposed interaction between any existing ambulance services and the regional ambulance service;

 

8)         A description of the support of the local medical communities for the regional ambulance service;

 

9)         A plan for quality management, including an evaluation of the project to be submitted to the Department after the first six months of operation, that indicates:

 

A)        the amount of grant funds expended and a description of expenditures;

 

B)        changes that have occurred in service provided as a result of the grant project; and

 

C)        an evaluation of the effectiveness of the officer or agency designated by the regional ambulance service to be responsible for administering grant funds;

 

10)         A description of a plan for the provision of education for ambulance service personnel and a plan for public education by the regional ambulance service;

 

11)         A description of the responsibilities of service providers, including maintenance of vehicles and equipment;

 

12)         A description of the communications system that will be used by the regional ambulance service; and

 

13)         The name, address, and telephone number of the person to whom questions and information concerning the application and the grant project are to be directed.

 

Section 547.600  Review of Applications

 

a)         Applications for grant projects for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 1994, must be received by the Department on or before June 1, 1994.

 

b)         Applications will be reviewed by the Department for compliance with the requirements of this Part.  During the course of its review, the Department may contact the applicant for additional information if the information provided is incomplete, inconsistent, or unclear.

 

c)         Applicants whom the Department determines not to be eligible for grant funds will be notified in writing of the reason(s) for the Department's determination.

 

d)         After July 1, 1994, applications for grant funds must be received by March 1 of each year. Applicants will be notified of eligibility by June 30 of each year.

 

e)         Grant funds will be distributed equally among all eligible applicants.

 

Section 547.700  Use of Grant Funds

 

a)         Grant funds shall be spent in accordance with the operations budget referenced in Section 547.500(b)(4).

 

b)         Grant funds may be used to meet operational expenses of a regional ambulance service during its start-up phase when reimbursements have not yet met expenses.

 

c)         Grant funds may be used to meet expenses associated with consolidation of ambulance service providers into a regional ambulance service.

 

d)         Grant funds may be used to provide training for employees, prehospital care personnel, or volunteers specific to the needs of the project, and for business associates of the ambulance services, such as training officers or members of Boards of Directors.

 

e)         Grant funds may be used to establish telecommunications and computer capabilities for a Regional Ambulance Service.

 

f)         Grant funds shall not be used to establish services where private providers are in operation and their services have not been found to be inadequate.