The proposed bill seeks to amend current statutes concerning ambulance services and the certificate of necessity (CON) requirements. It would exempt certain ambulance services owned by hospitals from the CON requirement when applying solely for interfacility transport of patients. Additionally, it would remove the ability of current CON holders to appeal decisions made by the Director of the Department of Health Services regarding overlapping service areas and restrict these holders from obstructing other CON holders from amending their CONs to eliminate overlapping service areas. Moreover, the bill would create a right of first refusal for CON-holding ambulance services for interfacility transport when a transfer is necessary, mandating documentation of communication and transport details. It would also allow transferring institutions to seek alternative transport options if contacted ambulance services decline to transport the patient. The bill aims to streamline interfacility patient transport while maintaining essential medical standards and introduces new definitions and procedural requirements to clarify regulations governing emergency medical services in Arizona.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-2201, 36-2233, 36-2205, 36-2202, 36-2204, 36-401, 36-2225
House Engrossed Version: 36-2201, 36-2233, 36-2236, 36-2248, 36-2205, 36-2202, 36-2204, 36-401, 36-2225, 36-2234, 36-2240, 36-2237, 36-2217, 36-2242, 48-820, 48-822