House Bill No. 6976 mandates the Department of Public Health (DPH) to establish requirements for hospital emergency department diversions, which occur when hospitals reroute incoming ambulances due to saturation of their emergency department resources or lack of medical capability. The bill defines "emergency department diversion" and "emergency department saturation," and outlines that hospitals must adopt specific diversion policies, declare diversions following prescribed procedures, and notify DPH before doing so. Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements for hospitals receiving diverted patients and for emergency medical service (EMS) organizations in such situations.

The DPH commissioner is tasked with adopting regulations to implement these provisions, with the ability to enact temporary policies and procedures while final regulations are being developed. Noncompliance by EMS organizations with the established requirements can lead to disciplinary actions, including license suspension or revocation. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and does not anticipate any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities, as the DPH is expected to have the necessary expertise to fulfill these responsibilities.