HF 3288

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/26/2014 11:48am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; creating a certification for community emergency
medical technicians (EMT); requiring the commissioner of human services to
submit to the legislature proposed services and payment rates for coverage of
community EMT services under medical assistance; requiring the commissioner
of human services to evaluate community paramedic services; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2012, 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 2012, section 144E.001, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 5h. new text end

new text begin Emergency medical technician (EMT)-community EMT. new text end

new text begin "Emergency
medical technician-community EMT," "EMT-CE," or "community EMT" means a person
who is certified as an EMT and who meets the requirements for additional certification as
an EMT-CE as specified in section 144E.28, subdivision 10.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 144E.28, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Community EMTs. new text end

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

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

new text begin (2) successfully complete an EMT-CE 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 emergency medical services (EMS) medical director,
physician, 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) An EMT-CE must practice in accordance with protocols and supervisory
standards established by an EMS medical director in accordance with section 144E.265.
An EMT-CE 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 EMS medical director and relevant local
health care providers. The patient care plan must ensure that the services provided by the
EMT-CE 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. The EMT-CE shall work in concert with other social and health
care providers to ensure the best care is provided to the patient.
new text end

new text begin (c) An EMT-CE's protocol must be limited to caring for patients during the 72-hour
period following discharge from a hospital.
new text end

new text begin (d) An EMT-CE is subject to all certification, disciplinary, complaint, and other
regulatory requirements that apply to EMTs under this chapter.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin COMMUNITY EMT 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, health care systems, physicians, public health
nurses, and local public health agencies, shall determine specific services and payment
rates for those services performed by community emergency medical technicians (EMTs)
certified under Minnesota Statutes, section 144E.28, subdivision 10, that may be covered
by medical assistance.
new text end

new text begin (b) 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 community EMT scope of practice, care
coordination, diagnosis related to patient education, and the monitoring of chronic disease
management directives in accordance with educational preparation. In determining the
appropriate community EMT services to include under medical assistance coverage,
the commissioner shall consider the potential of reductions in hospital admissions and
emergency room utilization, as well as increased access to quality care in rural communities.
new text end

new text begin (c) Payment for services provided by a community EMT must be ordered by an
emergency medical services medical director, 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 be billed by an eligible medical assistance enrolled provider that
employs or contracts with the community EMT.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner shall submit the list of services to be covered by medical
assistance and proposed payment rates to the chairs and ranking minority members of
the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services policy and
finance by January 15, 2015. These services shall not be covered or paid for under 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 those 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
policy and finance 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