PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act Regarding Community Paramedicine Pilot Projects
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §84, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 562, §1, is amended to read:
 
4. Establishment of community paramedicine pilot projects.   Using the same process established by the board in rule for using 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 up to 12 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 committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters and labor, commerce, research and economic development matters that summarizes the work and progress during the previous calendar year of each pilot project authorized pursuant to this subsection.
 
SUMMARY
This bill removes a requirement that an emergency medical services provider that conducts a community paramedicine pilot project 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. The bill also removes a provision limiting the number of pilot projects.