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HF 262

2nd Engrossment - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/10/2011 03:07pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
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A bill for an act
relating to human services; creating a certification for community paramedics;
requiring the commissioner to determine medical assistance-covered services
performed by community paramedics; requiring the commissioner to evaluate the
effect of coverage of services by a community paramedic; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2010, sections 144E.001, by adding a subdivision; 144E.28, 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. new text end

new text begin "Emergency
medical technician-community paramedic," "EMT-CP," or "community paramedic" means
a person who is certified as an EMT-P and who meets the requirements for additional
certification as an EMT-CP as 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 an EMT-P, and have two years of full-time service
as an EMT-P, or the part-time equivalent;
new text end

new text begin (2) successfully complete a community paramedic training program from a college
or university that has been approved by the board or accredited by a board-approved
national accreditation organization. The training program must include clinical experience
that is provided under the supervision of an ambulance medical director, advanced practice
registered nurse, physician assistant, or public health nurse operating under the direct
authority of a local unit of government; and
new text end

new text begin (3) complete a board-approved application form.
new text end

new text begin (b) A community paramedic must practice in accordance with protocols and
supervisory standards established by an ambulance service medical director in accordance
with section 144E.265. A community paramedic may provide services as directed by
a patient care plan if the plan has been developed by the patient's primary physician,
an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant, in conjunction with
the ambulance service medical director and relevant local health care providers. The
patient care plan must ensure that the services provided by the community paramedic are
consistent with the services offered by the patient's health care home, if one exists, that
the patient receives the necessary services, and that there is no duplication of services
to the patient.
new text end

new text begin (c) A community paramedic is subject to all certification, disciplinary, complaint,
and other regulatory requirements that apply to EMT-Ps under this chapter.
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. new text begin COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC SERVICES COVERED UNDER THE
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of human services, in consultation with representatives
of emergency medical service providers, physicians, public health nurses, and local
public health agencies, shall determine specified services and payment rates for these
services to be performed by community paramedics certified under Minnesota Statutes,
section 144E.28, subdivision 9, to be covered by medical assistance under Minnesota
Statutes, section 256B.0625. Services may include interventions intended to prevent
avoidable ambulance transportation or hospital emergency department use, including the
performance of minor medical procedures, initial assessments within the paramedic scope
of practice, care coordination, diagnosis related to patient education, and the monitoring of
chronic disease management directives in accordance with educational preparation.
new text end

new text begin (b) Payment for services provided by a community paramedic must be ordered by an
ambulance medical director, must be part of a patient care plan that has been developed in
coordination with the patient's primary physician and relevant local health care providers,
and must be billed by an eligible medical assistance enrolled provider that employs or
contracts with the community paramedic. In determining the community paramedic
services to include under medical assistance coverage, the commissioner shall consider
the potential of hospital admittance and emergency room utilization reductions as well
as increased access to quality care in rural communities.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner shall submit the list of services to be covered by medical
assistance to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate Health and Human
Services Budget and Policy Committee and the house of representatives Health and
Human Services Finance Committee by January 15, 2012. These services shall not be
covered by medical assistance until further legislative action is taken.
new text end

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

new text begin The commissioner of human services 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 the coordination of these services with health care home
services. The commissioner shall present findings to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services by
December 1, 2014. The commissioner shall require medical assistance and MinnesotaCare
enrolled providers that employ or contract with community paramedics to provide to the
commissioner, in the form and manner specified by the commissioner, the utilization, cost,
and quality data necessary to conduct this evaluation.
new text end