HB2778enr 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.