S.B. 297: COMMITTEE SUMMARY - AMBULANCE OPERATION

Senate Bill 297 (as introduced 3-6-97)

Committee: Health Policy and Senior Citizens

Date Completed: 4-28-97

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to provide that if an ambulance operation were able to staff an ambulance for the transport of a particular emergency patient at a life support level higher than the ambulance's life support level designation (as required under the Code), then each staff member on the ambulance could provide life support services to the emergency patient consistent with the staff member's individual emergency medical services personnel license. If the ambulance operation operated under a medical control authority, the medical control authority could adopt protocols for the implementation of the bill's provisions, but could not adopt a protocol prohibiting an ambulance operation from operating under the bill. If an ambulance operation intended to operate under the bill, the ambulance operation would have to notify the Department of Consumer and Industry Services of that fact, in writing, at least 30 days before the ambulance operation began operating. The Department could require the ambulance operation to obtain a separate license for an ambulance consistent with each type of life support the ambulance operation intended to provide with that ambulance.

Under the Code, an ambulance may not operate while transporting a patient unless the ambulance is staffed as required according to its designation. If designated as providing basic life support, an ambulance must have at least one emergency medical technician (EMT) and one medical first responder; if designated as providing limited advanced life support, it must have at least one EMT specialist and one EMT; and if designated as providing advanced life support, at least one paramedic and one EMT. A medical control authority is the medical control for emergency medical services, as designated by the Department of Consumer and Industry Services, for a particular geographic region. A local medical control authority must establish written protocols for the practice of life support agencies and licensed emergency medical services personnel within its region. An ambulance operation must operate in accordance with approved local medical control authority protocols.

MCL 333.20919 et al. - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

- Fiscal Analyst: M. Tyszkiewicz

S9798\S297SA

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.