AMBULANCE SERVICES FOR LOW-POPULATION AREAS

Senate Bill 929 (H-1) as reported from House committee

Sponsor:  Sen. Tom Casperson

House Committee:  Health Policy

Senate Committee:  Health Policy

Complete to 12-9-18                                                              (Enacted as Public Act 398 of 2018)

SUMMARY:

Senate Bill 929 would amend Part 209 (Emergency Medical Services) of the Public Health Code to allow for a reduced level of licensure for ambulance operations in certain low-population areas. This provision was initially added to the Code as Section 20921a by Public Act 413 of 2014 (HB 5842);[1] however, that PA sunsetted the provision (scheduled it to expire) effective January 1, 2018. The bill would reinstate the provision as a new Section 20921a.

The bill would allow a limited or advanced ambulance operation whose primary service area is in a county with a population of up to 10,000 and whose primary service area has a population density of fewer than seven people per square mile to have an ambulance available at less than the limited or advanced level of licensure if certain conditions were met. Specifically, reduced licensure would be allowed if the governing medical control authority authorized the lesser licensure and the advanced ambulance operation had local medical control authority protocols in place that had been approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

However, a basic ambulance operation with that qualifying level of population or population density could operate at an increased level of licensure when staffed with an EMT-specialist or EMT-paramedic if the basic ambulance were equipped at the greater licensure level, the governing medical authority authorized the conditional increased level of licensure, and the operation had DHHS-approved local medical authority protocols in place.

Proposed MCL 333.20921a

HOUSE COMMITTEE ACTION:

The House Health Policy committee adopted an H-1 substitute to SB 929, which changed the number of the section to be added from 20921b to 20921a. This reinstates the provisions in the bill in their original section number and ensures that another reference in the Code (in Section 20921) implicates the correct section number.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Senate Bill 929 has no fiscal implications for the DHHS or local units of government.

POSITIONS:

The following organizations indicated support for the bill (11-28-18):

·         Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

·         Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union

·         Michigan Association of Ambulance Services

·         McLaren Health Care

                                                                                       Legislative Analysts:   Jenny McInerney

                                                                                                                           Dana Adams

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Susan Frey

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

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