HF 262

1st Engrossment - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/24/2011 03:10pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; creating a certification for community paramedics;
requiring medical assistance coverage of certain community paramedic services;
requiring a report; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 144E.001, by
adding a subdivision; 144E.28, by adding a subdivision; 256B.0625, by adding a
subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 144E.001, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 5f. new text end

new text begin Emergency medical technician-community paramedic or EMT-CP.
new text end

new text begin "Emergency medical technician-community paramedic" or "EMT-CP" means a person
who is employed by a licensed ambulance service, is currently certified in Minnesota as
an EMT-P, and who meets the additional requirements for certification as an EMT-CP
specified in section 144E.28, subdivision 9.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2011.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 144E.28, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Community paramedics. new text end

new text begin (a) To be eligible for certification by the board
as an EMT-CP, an individual shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) be currently certified as a Minnesota EMT-P, and have two years of full-time
service as an EMT-P, or its part-time equivalent; and
new text end

new text begin (2) successfully complete a community paramedic training program from a
Minnesota-accredited college or university. The clinical experience provided to students
in the program must be under the supervision of an ambulance medical director, advanced
practice nurse, physician assistant, or public health nurse operating under the direct
authority of a local unit of government.
new text end

new text begin (b) A community paramedic must practice in accordance with protocols and
supervisory standards established by the ambulance service medical director as provided
under section 144E.265.
new text end

new text begin (c) A community paramedic is subject to all certification, disciplinary, complaint,
and other regulatory requirements that apply to an EMT-P under this chapter.
new text end

new text begin (d) To prevent duplication of services, community paramedics may be included in
the patient care plan, which must be developed in coordination with other local providers,
including hospitals and clinics and other entities such as health care homes and local
public health agencies.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2011.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 256B.0625, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 55. new text end

new text begin Community paramedic services. new text end

new text begin (a) Medical assistance covers the
following services, when provided by a community paramedic certified under section
144E.28, subdivision 9: chronic disease monitoring and treatment; performance of minor
medical procedures intended to prevent avoidable ambulance transportation or avoidable
hospital emergency department use; provision of patient information and care referral
options for meeting physical and mental health care needs; and other services approved by
the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner, in consultation with representatives of emergency medical
service providers and local public health agencies, shall establish a payment rate for
services performed by community paramedics. All payments for community paramedic
services must be provided to the medical assistance-enrolled provider, which may only be
an ambulance service licensed under chapter 144E.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2011.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin EVALUATION OF COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC SERVICES.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services, in cooperation with the commissioner of
health, shall evaluate the effect of medical assistance and MinnesotaCare coverage of
community paramedic services on the cost and quality of care under those programs, and
shall present findings to the legislature by December 1, 2014.
new text end