OLR Bill Analysis

HB 6599 (as amended by House "A")*

AN ACT CONCERNING PATIENT SAFETY.

SUMMARY:

This bill permits only licensed or certified ambulance and rescue services to transport patients on stretchers in motor vehicles. The Public Health Department licenses commercial ambulance and rescue services and issues certificates to volunteer and municipal ambulance services. By law, anyone who wilfully violates an emergency medical services law can be fined up to $ 250, imprisoned for up to three months, or both (CGS § 19a-180(d)(5)).

The bill requires any ambulance used to transport patients between hospitals to meet state regulatory requirements for basic ambulance service, including those concerning medically necessary supplies and services. These regulations require, among other things, one medical response technician and one emergency medical technician in the ambulance, the latter who must attend the patient at all times.

The bill permits a licensed registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or respiratory care practitioner to supplement the ambulance transport if he or she has current training and certification (1) in pediatric or adult advance life support or (2) from the American Academy of Pediatrics' neonatal resuscitation program, as appropriate and based on the patient's condition.

*House Amendment “A” adds the provisions on ambulance transport between hospitals.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage for interhospital transport; October 1, 2009 for stretcher transport.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Public Health Committee

Joint Favorable

Judiciary Committee

Joint Favorable