The bill amends Chapter 23-4.1 of the General Laws to establish a mobile integrated healthcare community paramedicine program, which will be administered by the Department of Health in collaboration with the ambulance service coordinating advisory board. This program aims to enhance emergency medical services by incorporating both in-network and out-of-network ground ambulance services, as well as community-based healthcare services. Emergency medical services agencies must apply for and receive approval from the Department of Health to provide these services, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations regarding surprise medical billing for out-of-network services.

Additionally, the bill updates definitions and provisions related to ground ambulance services in Chapters 27-18, 27-19, 27-20, and 27-41, introducing terms such as "ambulance," "emergency medical services," and "mobile integrated healthcare community paramedicine program." It mandates that individual and group health insurance contracts issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2027, must provide coverage and reimbursement for ground ambulance services at rates equal to those provided by Medicare for the same medical services. This coverage will include community-based healthcare services, including mobile integrated health community paramedicine programs approved by the Department of Health. The bill specifies that if the ground ambulance service provider participates in the carrier's network, the carrier must cover and reimburse the ambulance service provider at the provider's rate for the level of care provided, regardless of whether the patient is transported. The act is intended to improve access to emergency medical transportation and ensure fair compensation for service providers, taking effect upon passage.