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An Act To Authorize the Establishment of Pilot Projects for Community Paramedicine
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §84, sub-§4  is enacted to read:
 
4.  Establishment of community paramedicine pilot projects.     In accordance with rules of the board governing the use of pilot projects to evaluate the workability and appropriateness of incorporating a particular emergency medical treatment technique or a type of equipment into any licensure level, the board may establish pilot projects for the purpose of developing and evaluating a community paramedicine program. A pilot project established pursuant to this subsection may not exceed 3 years in duration.
 
As used in this subsection, "community paramedicine" means the practice by an emergency medical services provider primarily in an out-of-hospital setting of providing episodic patient evaluation, advice and treatment directed at preventing or improving a particular medical condition, within the scope of practice of the emergency medical services provider as specifically requested or directed by a physician.
 
The board shall establish the requirements and application and approval process of pilot projects established pursuant to this subsection. At a minimum, an emergency medical services provider, including, but not limited to, an ambulance service or nontransporting emergency medical service, that conducts a pilot project shall work with an identified primary care medical director, have an emergency medical services medical director and collect and submit data and written reports to the board, in accordance with requirements established by the board.
 
On or before January 30th of each year, the board shall submit a written report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters that summarizes the work and progress during the previous calendar year of each pilot project authorized pursuant to this subsection.
 
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety, Emergency Medical Services' Board, in accordance with current rules of the board, to establish the requirements and application and approval process for community paramedicine pilot projects for the purpose of developing and evaluating the appropriateness of a community paramedicine program. The bill establishes minimum levels of medical oversight and requires reporting by the pilot project to the board. The board is required to report annually regarding the pilot projects to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters.