The bill establishes an exemption program for ambulance service operators regarding certain healthcare services, specifically allowing them to triage and transport patients to alternative destinations without the requirement of coordinating care through telemedicine. The existing law is amended to clarify that ambulance service operators may triage and transport patients unless specified otherwise under the new exemption provisions. The bill introduces a new subsection that outlines the process for ambulance service operators to apply for exemptions from the telemedicine requirement, detailing the criteria for exemption and the application process.

Under the new provisions, the Department of Health is tasked with creating rules for the exemption application process, which must be filed with the Secretary of State by January 1, 2026, or as soon as practicable after necessary approvals. Each application for exemption must be submitted separately for each healthcare service, and the department is required to notify operators of their determination regarding the exemption requests. This legislative change aims to enhance the flexibility of ambulance services in providing care while ensuring that appropriate oversight and criteria are established for exemptions.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1285 Original - 1-28-2025 04:58 PM: 20-13-108(b), 20-13-108
Old version HB1285 V2 - 2-20-2025 11:59 AM: 20-13-108(b), 20-13-108
HB 1285: 20-13-108(b), 20-13-108