What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to health
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1068
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to community paramedicine services provided by emergency medical providers
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Richard Gottfried
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S5481
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to community paramedicine services provided by emergency medical providers
Purpose
This bill would authorize the practice of community paramedicine, defined as the practice by emergency medical technicians (including advanced EMTs) of evaluating, preventing, or improving health conditions of patients, within the EMT or advanced EMT's scope of practice, education, and training, in circumstances other than the initial emergency medical care and transport.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 - Adds language to Public Health Law section 3000 stating the intent of community paramedicine programs.
Section 2 - Amends the definition of "medical control" in section 3001 to also apply to community paramedicine.
Section 3 - Adds a definition of "community paramedicine" as the practice by an emergency medical technician in the course of his or her work as an employee or member of an ambulance service or advanced life support first response service, in a setting other than a general hospital and under medical control, of evaluating, preventing, or improving the health condition of an individual, within the scope of practice, education and training of the emergency medical technician, in circumstances other than the initial emergency medical care and transportation of sick or injured persons (§ 3001 (22).
Section 4 - Authorizes the practice of community paramedicine and Health Department regulations.
Section 5 - provides for an immediate effective date.
Justification
"Community paramedicine" (CPM) is the provision of health care by an emergency medical technician (EMT) or advanced EMT in circumstances other than the initial emergency medical care and transport of sick patients. This may include but is not limited to coordinating patient care and transportation decisions with other providers; helping refer frequent EMS users to appropriate services to break the cycle of relying on EMS calls; using EMS care assessment skills to evaluate patients and activate follow-up care; or improving health and safety conditions for vulnerable patients by evaluating potential hazards in the patient's home.
This bill authorizes EMTs or advanced EMTs, acting in the course of their work with emergency medical services, to provide CPM services within their existing scope of practice and subject to regulation by the Commissioner. These activities will improve continuity of care between emergency response and other healthcare providers, helping to avoid preventable hospitalizations and reduce some patients' overreliance on emergency calls as their first and only point of contact with the healthcare system.
A report by the NYS Emergency Medical Services Council (SEMSCO) and Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (SEMAC) laid out parameters for authorization of CPM. ("Achieving Mobile Integrated Health Care Though the Use of Community Paramedicine," Community Paramedicine Technical Advisory Group, August 2014.) The 2014 Department of Health North Country Health Systems Redesign Commission also recommended implementation of CPM for home visits and preventive care.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.