Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB0761
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Full Text of SB0761  103rd General Assembly

SB0761ham001 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Lakesia Collins

Filed: 5/8/2023

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 761

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 761 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems
5Act is amended by changing Sections 3.20, 3.55, and 3.85 and by
6adding 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
10organization of hospitals, vehicle service providers and
11personnel approved by the Department in a specific geographic
12area, which coordinates and provides pre-hospital and
13inter-hospital emergency care and non-emergency medical
14transports at a BLS, ILS and/or ALS level pursuant to a System
15program plan submitted to and approved by the Department, and
16pursuant to the EMS Region Plan adopted for the EMS Region in

 

 

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1which the System is located.
2    (b) One hospital in each System program plan must be
3designated as the Resource Hospital. All other hospitals which
4are located within the geographic boundaries of a System and
5which have standby, basic or comprehensive level emergency
6departments must function in that EMS System as either an
7Associate Hospital or Participating Hospital and follow all
8System policies specified in the System Program Plan,
9including but not limited to the replacement of drugs and
10equipment used by providers who have delivered patients to
11their emergency departments. All hospitals and vehicle service
12providers participating in an EMS System must specify their
13level of participation in the System Program Plan.
14    (c) The Department shall have the authority and
15responsibility to:
16        (1) Approve BLS, ILS and ALS level EMS Systems which
17    meet minimum standards and criteria established in rules
18    adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, including
19    the submission of a Program Plan for Department approval.
20    Beginning September 1, 1997, the Department shall approve
21    the development of a new EMS System only when a local or
22    regional need for establishing such System has been
23    verified by the Department. This shall not be construed as
24    a needs assessment for health planning or other purposes
25    outside of this Act. Following Department approval, EMS
26    Systems must be fully operational within one year from the

 

 

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1    date of approval.
2        (2) Monitor EMS Systems, based on minimum standards
3    for continuing operation as prescribed in rules adopted by
4    the Department pursuant to this Act, which shall include
5    requirements for submitting Program Plan amendments to the
6    Department for approval.
7        (3) Renew EMS System approvals every 4 years, after an
8    inspection, based on compliance with the standards for
9    continuing operation prescribed in rules adopted by the
10    Department pursuant to this Act.
11        (4) Suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew approval of
12    any EMS System, after providing an opportunity for a
13    hearing, when findings show that it does not meet the
14    minimum standards for continuing operation as prescribed
15    by the Department, or is found to be in violation of its
16    previously approved Program Plan.
17        (5) Require each EMS System to adopt written protocols
18    for the bypassing of or diversion to any hospital, trauma
19    center or regional trauma center, which provide that a
20    person shall not be transported to a facility other than
21    the nearest hospital, regional trauma center or trauma
22    center unless the medical benefits to the patient
23    reasonably expected from the provision of appropriate
24    medical treatment at a more distant facility outweigh the
25    increased risks to the patient from transport to the more
26    distant facility, or the transport is in accordance with

 

 

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1    the System's protocols for patient choice or refusal.
2        (6) Require that the EMS Medical Director of an ILS or
3    ALS level EMS System be a physician licensed to practice
4    medicine in all of its branches in Illinois, and certified
5    by the American Board of Emergency Medicine or the
6    American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine, and that
7    the EMS Medical Director of a BLS level EMS System be a
8    physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its
9    branches in Illinois, with regular and frequent
10    involvement in pre-hospital emergency medical services. In
11    addition, all EMS Medical Directors shall:
12            (A) Have experience on an EMS vehicle at the
13        highest level available within the System, or make
14        provision to gain such experience within 12 months
15        prior to the date responsibility for the System is
16        assumed or within 90 days after assuming the position;
17            (B) Be thoroughly knowledgeable of all skills
18        included in the scope of practices of all levels of EMS
19        personnel within the System;
20            (C) Have or make provision to gain experience
21        instructing students at a level similar to that of the
22        levels of EMS personnel within the System; and
23            (D) For ILS and ALS EMS Medical Directors,
24        successfully complete a Department-approved EMS
25        Medical Director's Course.
26        (7) Prescribe statewide EMS data elements to be

 

 

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1    collected and documented by providers in all EMS Systems
2    for all emergency and non-emergency medical services, with
3    a one-year phase-in for commencing collection of such data
4    elements.
5        (8) Define, through rules adopted pursuant to this
6    Act, the terms "Resource Hospital", "Associate Hospital",
7    "Participating Hospital", "Basic Emergency Department",
8    "Standby Emergency Department", "Comprehensive Emergency
9    Department", "EMS Medical Director", "EMS Administrative
10    Director", and "EMS System Coordinator".
11            (A) (Blank).
12            (B) (Blank).
13        (9) Investigate the circumstances that caused a
14    hospital in an EMS system to go on bypass status to
15    determine whether that hospital's decision to go on bypass
16    status was reasonable. The Department may impose
17    sanctions, as set forth in Section 3.140 of the Act, upon a
18    Department determination that the hospital unreasonably
19    went on bypass status in violation of the Act.
20        (10) Evaluate the capacity and performance of any
21    freestanding emergency center established under Section
22    32.5 of this Act in meeting emergency medical service
23    needs of the public, including compliance with applicable
24    emergency medical standards and assurance of the
25    availability of and immediate access to the highest
26    quality of medical care possible.

 

 

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1        (11) Permit limited EMS System participation by
2    facilities operated by the United States Department of
3    Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration. Subject
4    to patient preference, Illinois EMS providers may
5    transport patients to Veterans Health Administration
6    facilities that voluntarily participate in an EMS System.
7    Any Veterans Health Administration facility seeking
8    limited participation in an EMS System shall agree to
9    comply with all Department administrative rules
10    implementing this Section. The Department may promulgate
11    rules, including, but not limited to, the types of
12    Veterans Health Administration facilities that may
13    participate in an EMS System and the limitations of
14    participation.
15        (12) Ensure that EMS systems are transporting pregnant
16    women to the appropriate facilities based on the
17    classification of the levels of maternal care described
18    under subsection (a) of Section 2310-223 of the Department
19    of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil
20    Administrative Code of Illinois.
21        (13) Provide administrative support to the EMT
22    Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task Force.
23(Source: P.A. 101-447, eff. 8-23-19.)
 
24    (210 ILCS 50/3.22 new)
25    Sec. 3.22. EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task

 

 

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1Force.
2    (a) The EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task
3Force is created to address the following:
4        (1) the impact that the EMT and Paramedic shortage is
5    having on this State's EMS System and health care system;
6        (2) barriers to the training, recruitment, and
7    retention of Emergency Medical Technicians throughout this
8    State;
9        (3) steps that the State of Illinois can take,
10    including coordination and identification of State and
11    federal funding sources, to assist Illinois high schools,
12    community colleges, and ground ambulance providers to
13    train, recruit, and retain emergency medical technicians;
14        (4) the examination of current testing mechanisms for
15    EMRs, EMTs, and Paramedics and the utilization of the
16    National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians,
17    including current pass rates by licensure level, national
18    utilization, and test preparation strategies;
19        (5) how apprenticeship programs, local, regional, and
20    statewide, can be utilized to recruit and retain EMRs,
21    EMTs, and Paramedics;
22        (6) how ground ambulance reimbursement affects the
23    recruitment and retention of EMTs and Paramedics; and
24        (7) all other areas that the Task Force deems
25    necessary to examine and assist in the recruitment and
26    retention of EMTs and Paramedics.

 

 

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1    (b) The Task Force shall be comprised of the following
2members:
3        (1) one member of the Illinois General Assembly,
4    appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall serve
5    as co-chair;
6        (2) one member of the Illinois General Assembly,
7    appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
8        (3) one member of the Illinois General Assembly,
9    appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;
10        (4) one member of the Illinois General Assembly,
11    appointed by the House Minority Leader, who shall serve as
12    co-chair;
13        (5) 9 members representing private ground ambulance
14    providers throughout this State representing for-profit
15    and non-profit rural and urban ground ambulance providers,
16    appointed by the President of the Senate;
17        (6) 3 members representing hospitals, appointed by the
18    Speaker of the House of Representatives, with one member
19    representing safety net hospitals and one member
20    representing rural hospitals;
21        (7) 3 members representing a statewide association of
22    nursing homes, appointed by the President of the Senate;
23        (8) one member representing the State Board of
24    Education, appointed by the House Minority Leader;
25        (9) 2 EMS Medical Directors from a Regional EMS
26    Medical Directors Committee, appointed by the Governor;

 

 

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1    and
2        (10) one member representing the Illinois Community
3    College Systems, appointed by the Minority Leader of the
4    Senate.
5    (c) Members of the Task Force shall serve without
6compensation.
7    (d) The Task Force shall convene at the call of the
8co-chairs and shall hold at least 6 meetings.
9    (e) The Task Force shall submit its final report to the
10General Assembly and the Governor no later than January 1,
112024, and upon the submission of its final report, the Task
12Force shall be dissolved.
 
13    (210 ILCS 50/3.55)
14    Sec. 3.55. Scope of practice.
15    (a) Any person currently licensed as an EMR, EMT, EMT-I,
16A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic may perform emergency
17and non-emergency medical services as defined in this Act, in
18accordance with his or her level of education, training and
19licensure, the standards of performance and conduct prescribed
20by the Department in rules adopted pursuant to this Act, and
21the requirements of the EMS System in which he or she
22practices, as contained in the approved Program Plan for that
23System. The Director may, by written order, temporarily modify
24individual scopes of practice in response to public health
25emergencies for periods not exceeding 180 days.

 

 

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1    (a-5) EMS personnel who have successfully completed a
2Department approved course in automated defibrillator
3operation and who are functioning within a Department approved
4EMS System may utilize such automated defibrillator according
5to the standards of performance and conduct prescribed by the
6Department in rules adopted pursuant to this Act and the
7requirements of the EMS System in which they practice, as
8contained in the approved Program Plan for that System.
9    (a-7) An EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or
10Paramedic who has successfully completed a Department approved
11course in the administration of epinephrine shall be required
12to carry epinephrine with him or her as part of the EMS
13personnel medical supplies whenever he or she is performing
14official duties as determined by the EMS System. The
15epinephrine may be administered from a glass vial,
16auto-injector, ampule, or pre-filled syringe.
17    (b) An EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or
18Paramedic may practice as an EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, or
19Paramedic or utilize his or her EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN,
20PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic license in pre-hospital or
21inter-hospital emergency care settings or non-emergency
22medical transport situations, under the written or verbal
23direction of the EMS Medical Director. For purposes of this
24Section, a "pre-hospital emergency care setting" may include a
25location, that is not a health care facility, which utilizes
26EMS personnel to render pre-hospital emergency care prior to

 

 

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1the arrival of a transport vehicle. The location shall include
2communication equipment and all of the portable equipment and
3drugs appropriate for the EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, or
4Paramedic's level of care, as required by this Act, rules
5adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and the
6protocols of the EMS Systems, and shall operate only with the
7approval and under the direction of the EMS Medical Director.
8    This Section shall not prohibit an EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT,
9PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic from practicing within an
10emergency department or other health care setting for the
11purpose of receiving continuing education or training approved
12by the EMS Medical Director. This Section shall also not
13prohibit an EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or
14Paramedic from seeking credentials other than his or her EMT,
15EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic license and
16utilizing such credentials to work in emergency departments or
17other health care settings under the jurisdiction of that
18employer.
19    (c) An EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic
20may honor Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders and powers of
21attorney for health care only in accordance with rules adopted
22by the Department pursuant to this Act and protocols of the EMS
23System in which he or she practices.
24    (d) A student enrolled in a Department approved EMS
25personnel program, while fulfilling the clinical training and
26in-field supervised experience requirements mandated for

 

 

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1licensure or approval by the System and the Department, may
2perform prescribed procedures under the direct supervision of
3a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its
4branches, a qualified registered professional nurse, or
5qualified EMS personnel, only when authorized by the EMS
6Medical Director.
7    (e) An EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or
8Paramedic may transport a police dog injured in the line of
9duty to a veterinary clinic or similar facility if there are no
10persons requiring medical attention or transport at that time.
11For the purposes of this subsection, "police dog" means a dog
12owned or used by a law enforcement department or agency in the
13course of the department or agency's work, including a search
14and rescue dog, service dog, accelerant detection canine, or
15other dog that is in use by a county, municipal, or State law
16enforcement agency.
17    (f) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit an
18EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, or PHRN from completing an
19initial Occupational Safety and Health Administration
20Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire on behalf of fire
21service personnel, as permitted by his or her EMS System
22Medical Director.
23    (g) An EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, PHRN, PHAPRN, or PHPA
24shall be eligible to work for another EMS System for a period
25not to exceed 2 weeks if the individual is under the direct
26supervision of another licensed individual operating at the

 

 

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1same or higher level as the EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic,
2PHRN, PHAPRN, or PHPA; obtained approval in writing from the
3EMS System's Medical Director; and tests into the EMS System
4based upon appropriate standards as outlined in the EMS System
5Program Plan. The EMS System within which the EMT, EMT-I,
6A-EMT, Paramedic, PHRN, PHAPRN, or PHPA is seeking to join
7must make all required testing available to the EMT, EMT-I,
8A-EMT, Paramedic, PHRN, PHAPRN, or PHPA within 2 weeks after
9the written request. Failure to do so by the EMS System shall
10allow the EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, PHRN, PHAPRN, or PHPA
11to continue working for another EMS System until all required
12testing becomes available.
13(Source: P.A. 102-79, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
14    (210 ILCS 50/3.85)
15    Sec. 3.85. Vehicle Service Providers.
16    (a) "Vehicle Service Provider" means an entity licensed by
17the Department to provide emergency or non-emergency medical
18services in compliance with this Act, the rules promulgated by
19the Department pursuant to this Act, and an operational plan
20approved by its EMS System(s), utilizing at least ambulances
21or specialized emergency medical service vehicles (SEMSV).
22        (1) "Ambulance" means any publicly or privately owned
23    on-road vehicle that is specifically designed, constructed
24    or modified and equipped, and is intended to be used for,
25    and is maintained or operated for the emergency

 

 

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1    transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded
2    or otherwise incapacitated or helpless, or the
3    non-emergency medical transportation of persons who
4    require the presence of medical personnel to monitor the
5    individual's condition or medical apparatus being used on
6    such individuals.
7        (2) "Specialized Emergency Medical Services Vehicle"
8    or "SEMSV" means a vehicle or conveyance, other than those
9    owned or operated by the federal government, that is
10    primarily intended for use in transporting the sick or
11    injured by means of air, water, or ground transportation,
12    that is not an ambulance as defined in this Act. The term
13    includes watercraft, aircraft and special purpose ground
14    transport vehicles or conveyances not intended for use on
15    public roads.
16        (3) An ambulance or SEMSV may also be designated as a
17    Limited Operation Vehicle or Special-Use Vehicle:
18            (A) "Limited Operation Vehicle" means a vehicle
19        which is licensed by the Department to provide basic,
20        intermediate or advanced life support emergency or
21        non-emergency medical services that are exclusively
22        limited to specific events or locales.
23            (B) "Special-Use Vehicle" means any publicly or
24        privately owned vehicle that is specifically designed,
25        constructed or modified and equipped, and is intended
26        to be used for, and is maintained or operated solely

 

 

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1        for the emergency or non-emergency transportation of a
2        specific medical class or category of persons who are
3        sick, injured, wounded or otherwise incapacitated or
4        helpless (e.g. high-risk obstetrical patients,
5        neonatal patients).
6            (C) "Reserve Ambulance" means a vehicle that meets
7        all criteria set forth in this Section and all
8        Department rules, except for the required inventory of
9        medical supplies and durable medical equipment, which
10        may be rapidly transferred from a fully functional
11        ambulance to a reserve ambulance without the use of
12        tools or special mechanical expertise.
13    (b) The Department shall have the authority and
14responsibility to:
15        (1) Require all Vehicle Service Providers, both
16    publicly and privately owned, to function within an EMS
17    System.
18        (2) Require a Vehicle Service Provider utilizing
19    ambulances to have a primary affiliation with an EMS
20    System within the EMS Region in which its Primary Service
21    Area is located, which is the geographic areas in which
22    the provider renders the majority of its emergency
23    responses. This requirement shall not apply to Vehicle
24    Service Providers which exclusively utilize Limited
25    Operation Vehicles.
26        (3) Establish licensing standards and requirements for

 

 

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1    Vehicle Service Providers, through rules adopted pursuant
2    to this Act, including but not limited to:
3            (A) Vehicle design, specification, operation and
4        maintenance standards, including standards for the use
5        of reserve ambulances;
6            (B) Equipment requirements;
7            (C) Staffing requirements; and
8            (D) License renewal at intervals determined by the
9        Department, which shall be not less than every 4
10        years.
11        The Department's standards and requirements with
12    respect to vehicle staffing for private, nonpublic local
13    government employers must allow for alternative staffing
14    models that include an EMR who drives an ambulance with a
15    licensed EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, or PHRN, as
16    appropriate, in the patient compartment providing care to
17    the patient pursuant to the approval of the EMS System
18    Program Plan developed and approved by the EMS Medical
19    Director for an EMS System. The EMS personnel licensed at
20    the highest level shall provide the initial assessment of
21    the patient to determine the level of care required for
22    transport to the receiving health care facility, and this
23    assessment shall be documented in the patient care report
24    and documented with online medical control. The EMS
25    personnel licensed at or above the level of care required
26    by the specific patient as directed by the EMS Medical

 

 

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1    Director shall be the primary care provider en route to
2    the destination facility or patient's residence. The
3    Department shall monitor the implementation and
4    performance of alternative staffing models and may issue a
5    notice of termination of an alternative staffing model
6    only upon evidence that an EMS System Program Plan is not
7    being adhered to. Adoption of an alternative staffing
8    model shall not result in a Vehicle Service Provider being
9    prohibited or limited in the utilization of its staff or
10    equipment from providing any of the services authorized by
11    this Act or as otherwise outlined in the approved EMS
12    System Program Plan, including, without limitation, the
13    deployment of resources to provide out-of-state disaster
14    response. EMS System Program Plans must address a process
15    for out-of-state disaster response deployments that must
16    meet the following:
17            (A) All deployments to provide out-of-state
18        disaster response must first be approved by the EMS
19        Medical Director and submitted to the Department.
20            (B) The submission must include the number of
21        units being deployed, vehicle identification numbers,
22        length of deployment, and names of personnel and their
23        licensure level.
24            (C) Ensure that all necessary in-state requests
25        for services will be covered during the duration of
26        the deployment.

 

 

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1        An EMS System Program Plan for a Basic Life Support,
2    advanced life support, and critical care transport
3    utilizing an EMR and an EMT shall include the following:
4            (A) Alternative staffing models for a Basic Life
5        Support transport utilizing an EMR and an EMT shall
6        only be utilized for interfacility Basic Life Support
7        transports as specified by the EMS System Program Plan
8        as determined by the EMS System Medical Director and
9        medical appointments, excluding any transport to or
10        from a dialysis center.
11            (B) Protocols that shall include dispatch
12        procedures to properly screen and assess patients for
13        EMR-staffed transports and EMT-staffed Basic Life
14        Support transport.
15            (C) A requirement that a provider and EMS System
16        shall implement a quality assurance plan that shall
17        include for the initial waiver period the review of at
18        least 5% of total interfacility transports utilizing
19        an EMR with mechanisms outlined to audit dispatch
20        screening, reason for transport, patient diagnosis,
21        level of care, and the outcome of transports
22        performed. Quality assurance reports must be submitted
23        and reviewed by the provider and EMS System monthly
24        and made available to the Department upon request. The
25        percentage of transports reviewed under quality
26        assurance plans for renewal periods shall be

 

 

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1        determined by the EMS Medical Director, however, it
2        shall not be less than 3%.
3            (D) The EMS System Medical Director shall develop
4        a minimum set of requirements for individuals based on
5        level of licensure that includes education, training,
6        and credentialing for all team members identified to
7        participate in an alternative staffing plan. The EMT,
8        Paramedic, PHRN, PHPA, PHAPRN, and critical care
9        transport staff shall have the minimum at least one
10        year of experience in performance of pre-hospital and
11        inter-hospital emergency care, as determined by the
12        EMS Medical Director in accordance with the EMS System
13        Program Plan, but at a minimum of 6 months of
14        prehospital experience or at least 50 documented
15        patient care interventions during transport as the
16        primary care provider and approved by the Department.
17            (E) The licensed EMR must complete a defensive
18        driving course prior to participation in the
19        Department's alternative staffing model.
20            (F) The length of the EMS System Program Plan for a
21        Basic Life Support transport utilizing an EMR and an
22        EMT shall be for one year, and must be renewed annually
23        if proof of the criteria being met is submitted,
24        validated, and approved by the EMS Medical Director
25        for the EMS System and the Department.
26            (G) Beginning July 1, 2023, the utilization of

 

 

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1        EMRs for advanced life support transports and Tier III
2        Critical Care Transports shall be allowed for periods
3        not to exceed 3 years under a pilot program. The pilot
4        program shall not be implemented before Department
5        approval. Agencies requesting to utilize this staffing
6        model for the time period of the pilot program must
7        complete the following:
8                (i) Submit a waiver request to the Department
9            requesting to participate in the pilot program
10            with specific details of how quality assurance and
11            improvement will be gathered, measured, reported
12            to the Department, and reviewed and utilized
13            internally by the participating agency.
14                (ii) Submit a signed approval letter from the
15            EMS System Medical Director approving
16            participation in the pilot program.
17                (iii) Submit updated EMS System plans,
18            additional education, and training of the EMR and
19            protocols related to the pilot program.
20                (iv) Submit agency policies and procedures
21            related to the pilot program.
22                (v) Submit the number of individuals currently
23            participating and committed to participating in
24            education programs to achieve a higher level of
25            licensure at the time of submission.
26                (vi) Submit an explanation of how the provider

 

 

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1            will support individuals obtaining a higher level
2            of licensure and encourage a higher level of
3            licensure during the year of the alternative
4            staffing plan and specific examples of recruitment
5            and retention activities or initiatives.
6            Upon submission of a renewal application and
7        recruitment and retention plan, the provider shall
8        include additional data regarding current employment
9        numbers, attrition rates over the year, and activities
10        and initiatives over the previous year to address
11        recruitment and retention.
12            The information required under this subparagraph
13        (G) shall be provided to and retained by the EMS System
14        upon initial application and renewal and shall be
15        provided to the Department upon request.
16        The Department must allow for an alternative rural
17    staffing model for those vehicle service providers that
18    serve a rural or semi-rural population of 10,000 or fewer
19    inhabitants and exclusively uses volunteers, paid-on-call,
20    or a combination thereof.
21        (4) License all Vehicle Service Providers that have
22    met the Department's requirements for licensure, unless
23    such Provider is owned or licensed by the federal
24    government. All Provider licenses issued by the Department
25    shall specify the level and type of each vehicle covered
26    by the license (BLS, ILS, ALS, ambulance, critical care

 

 

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1    transport, SEMSV, limited operation vehicle, special use
2    vehicle, reserve ambulance).
3        (5) Annually inspect all licensed vehicles operated by
4    Vehicle Service Providers.
5        (6) Suspend, revoke, refuse to issue or refuse to
6    renew the license of any Vehicle Service Provider, or that
7    portion of a license pertaining to a specific vehicle
8    operated by the Provider, after an opportunity for a
9    hearing, when findings show that the Provider or one or
10    more of its vehicles has failed to comply with the
11    standards and requirements of this Act or rules adopted by
12    the Department pursuant to this Act.
13        (7) Issue an Emergency Suspension Order for any
14    Provider or vehicle licensed under this Act, when the
15    Director or his designee has determined that an immediate
16    and serious danger to the public health, safety and
17    welfare exists. Suspension or revocation proceedings which
18    offer an opportunity for hearing shall be promptly
19    initiated after the Emergency Suspension Order has been
20    issued.
21        (8) Exempt any licensed vehicle from subsequent
22    vehicle design standards or specifications required by the
23    Department, as long as said vehicle is continuously in
24    compliance with the vehicle design standards and
25    specifications originally applicable to that vehicle, or
26    until said vehicle's title of ownership is transferred.

 

 

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1        (9) Exempt any vehicle (except an SEMSV) which was
2    being used as an ambulance on or before December 15, 1980,
3    from vehicle design standards and specifications required
4    by the Department, until said vehicle's title of ownership
5    is transferred. Such vehicles shall not be exempt from all
6    other licensing standards and requirements prescribed by
7    the Department.
8        (10) Prohibit any Vehicle Service Provider from
9    advertising, identifying its vehicles, or disseminating
10    information in a false or misleading manner concerning the
11    Provider's type and level of vehicles, location, primary
12    service area, response times, level of personnel,
13    licensure status or System participation.
14        (10.5) Prohibit any Vehicle Service Provider, whether
15    municipal, private, or hospital-owned, from advertising
16    itself as a critical care transport provider unless it
17    participates in a Department-approved EMS System critical
18    care transport plan.
19        (11) Charge each Vehicle Service Provider a fee per
20    transport vehicle, due annually at time of inspection. The
21    fee per transport vehicle shall be set by administrative
22    rule by the Department and shall not exceed 100 vehicles
23    per provider.
24        (12) Beginning July 1, 2023, as part of a pilot
25    program that shall not exceed a term of 3 years, an
26    ambulance may be upgraded to a higher level of care for

 

 

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1    interfacility transports by an ambulance assistance
2    vehicle with appropriate equipment and licensed personnel
3    to intercept with the licensed ambulance at the sending
4    facility before departure. The pilot program shall not be
5    implemented before Department approval. To participate in
6    the pilot program, an agency must:
7            (A) Submit a waiver request to the Department with
8        intercept vehicle vehicle identification numbers,
9        calls signs, equipment detail, and a robust quality
10        assurance plan that shall list, at minimum, detailed
11        reasons each intercept had to be completed, barriers
12        to initial dispatch of advanced life support services,
13        and how this benefited the patient.
14            (B) Report to the Department quarterly additional
15        data deemed meaningful by the providing agency along
16        with the data required under subparagraph (A) of this
17        paragraph (12).
18            (C) Obtain a signed letter of approval from the
19        EMS Medical Director allowing for participation in the
20        pilot program.
21            (D) Update EMS System plans and protocols from the
22        pilot program.
23            (E) Update policies and procedures from the
24        agencies participating in the pilot program.
25(Source: P.A. 102-623, eff. 8-27-21.)
 

 

 

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1    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
2becoming law.".