SF 119

1st Engrossment - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/21/2011 11:16am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; creating a certification for community paramedics;
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 or EMT-CP.
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 its 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
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 ambulance service medical
director, or by an advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or a certified
public health nurse under the authority of the medical director in coordination with the
patient's primary physician and the relevant local health care providers, including the local
hospital and local public health agency.
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 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, but are not limited to, initial health assessments, care coordination and
diagnosis-related patient education services, the performance of minor medical procedures
intended to prevent avoidable ambulance transportation or hospital emergency department
use, and the monitoring of chronic disease management directives.
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 shall present findings to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the senate and house of representatives 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