The bill amends Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws by adding sections 27-18-95 and 27-18-96, which expand the scope of emergency medical services (EMS) to include the transport of patients to alternative facilities and the coverage of EMS for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Section 27-18-95 allows EMS practitioners to transport patients to facilities such as primary care providers, community health clinics, urgent care facilities, and behavioral health facilities as part of a mobile integrated healthcare/community paramedicine program. It requires health insurance contracts to cover transport to these alternative locations at the same rate as transport to an emergency department starting January 1, 2025. Section 27-18-96 enables licensed providers to accompany EMS to evaluate and treat mental health disorders in the community and mandates that health insurance contracts cover these services at rates not lower than traditional office settings from January 1, 2025.

The bill also introduces new provisions to Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws, defining terms related to EMS and establishing criteria for EMS agencies to participate in mobile integrated healthcare/community paramedicine programs. These programs aim to address unmet healthcare needs outside of hospital settings by allowing EMS to divert non-emergency calls to appropriate alternative facilities. The bill mandates that health insurance contracts must cover transport to these facilities at equivalent rates to transport to an emergency department, effective January 1, 2025. Furthermore, the bill outlines the collaboration between the department of health and the ambulance service coordinating advisory board to establish necessary rules and regulations. It also adds sections to the Health Maintenance Organizations laws, defining EMS-related terms and establishing criteria for EMS agency participation in these programs. The bill is set to take effect upon passage.