SB 761

Abstract

Amends the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 210 ILCS 3/10 Adds reference to: 210 ILCS 50/3.20 210 ILCS 50/3.22 new 210 ILCS 50/3.65 210 ILCS 50/3.85 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall have the authority and responsibility to provide administrative support to the EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task Force. Creates the EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task Force. Sets forth provisions concerning the purpose, membership, compensation, and meetings of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall submit its final report to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than January 1, 2024, and upon the submission of its final report, the Task Force shall be dissolved. In provisions concerning Vehicle Service Providers, provides that adoption of an alternative staffing model shall not result in a Vehicle Service Provider being prohibited or limited in the utilization of its staff or equipment from providing any of the services authorized by the provisions or as otherwise outlined in the approved EMS System Program Plan, including, without limitation, the deployment of resources to provide out-of-state disaster response. Provides that all Provider licenses issued by the Department shall allow for ambulances to be immediately upgraded to a higher level of service when the Vehicle Service Provider sends an ambulance assist vehicle with appropriate equipment and licensed staff to intercept with the licensed ambulance in the field. Makes a change in the definition of "EMS Lead Instructor". Makes other changes. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that the EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task Force membership shall include 3 (rather than 2) members representing a statewide association of nursing homes, appointed by the President (rather than Minority Leader) of the Senate; and one member representing the Illinois Community College Systems, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate (rather than the House). House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 210 ILCS 50/3.65 Adds reference to: 210 ILCS 50/3.55 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Further amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. In provisions concerning scope of practice, provides that an EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, PHRN, PHAPRN, or PHPA shall be eligible to work for another EMS System for a period not to exceed 2 weeks, if they meet specified requirements. Provides that the membership of the EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task Force shall include 2 EMS Medical Directors appointed by the Governor and makes other changes to the appointing authority for certain members of the Task Force. Provides that the EMS personnel licensed at the highest level shall provide the initial assessment of the patient to determine the level of care required for transport to the receiving health care facility, and that assessment shall be documented in the patient care report and documented with online medical control. Provides that the EMS personnel licensed at or above the level of care required by the specific patient as directed by the EMS Medical Director shall be the primary care provider en route to the destination facility or patient's residence. Sets forth provisions concerning EMS System Program Plan deployments for out-of-state disasters. Sets forth provisions concerning quality assurance reports. Sets forth provisions concerning a pilot program beginning July 1, 2023 that shall not exceed a term of 3 years. Removes provisions concerning an EMS Lead Instructor. Makes other changes. Provides an immediate effective date.