Senate approves bill allowing EMS transport to facilities other than emergency departments

 

STATE HOUSE – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Joshua Miller to allow emergency medical services to transport patients to facilities other than hospital emergency departments, such as behavioral health centers, community health clinics, urgent care facilities or the person’s primary care provider.

The bill (2023-S 0576A) authorizes emergency medical service agencies approved by the Department of Health to participate in a mobile integrated healthcare/community paramedicine program, allowing the agencies to transport individuals to alternative facilities based on the individual’s need of emergency medical services. It also requires insurance policies that provide coverage for EMS to cover such transport.

Currently, EMS agencies are generally unable to get reimbursed for services unless they transport to a hospital emergency department.

“Emergency departments are not always the appropriate venue for treatment of every health issue for which a person might call 911,” said Chairman Miller, who in 2013 co-chaired a Senate commission that studied ways to reduce ER visits. “For example, once EMS personnel administer Narcan to a person experiencing an overdose, they may not need the services provided at a hospital. But they may very well need and be willing to go to a behavioral health facility to help them with rehab, and there’s a high likelihood that they won’t go if someone doesn’t bring them right away. This is effective use of resources that ensures that people go to the health care facility that is best suited to their needs.”

In particular, Chairman Miller noted, this law needs to be enacted ahead of the impending opening of certified community behavioral health clinics in Rhode Island. CCBHCs are clinics that provide a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use services. In the 2023 state budget bill passed last year, lawmakers authorized the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval to establish CCBHCs, and to cover all behavioral health services at CCBHCs through a bundled payment methodology that is specific to each provider organization’s anticipated costs.

CCBHCs are ideal places to provide treatment for substance use or mental health issues, and those who experience behavioral or mental health emergencies are most likely to use and benefit from their services if they are brought there immediately, Chairman Miller said.

Under the bill, an EMS agency would be allowed to transport patients to alternative facilities only after the Department of Health approves its plans for doing so.

The bill now goes to the House, where Rep. Rebecca Kislak (D-Dist. 4, Providence) is sponsoring companion legislation (2023-H 5873).

 

 

President Trump says the tariffs imposed on other countries are having the desired effect, and he's now open to negotiations. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said his initial tariff plan is over, and he's watching it settle in. He said every country has called, asking to cut a trade deal with the U.S. to avoid the tariffs.        Stocks are closing sharply lower one day after President Trump announced sweeping global tariffs. The S&P 500 had its worse day since 2020 as the White House announced a baseline tariff rate of ten-percent against most countries yesterday that will go into effect on Saturday. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 16-79 to 40-545. The S&P 500 lost 274 points to 53-96. The Nasdaq lost 10-50 points to 16-550.        A multi-day severe weather event is unfolding for more than 55-million people. It comes after at least seven people were killed in the South Central U.S. after storms that included several tornadoes hit the region yesterday. Tonight, there is still a tornado threat for the same areas, but forecasters warn there could also be potentially catastrophic flooding in the Mid-South and Midwest.        The Federal Aviation Administration is offering more support to air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport. The Critical Incident Stress Management team will be meeting with airport personnel sometime early this month. The FAA is also reviewing the arrival rate at the airport and will conduct regular wellness checks.        The Senate has confirmed Dr. Mehmet Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The television personality was confirmed on a party-line vote of 53-45. Oz now assumes a role that provides health insurance to roughly 160 million Americans.        Steven Spielberg and George Lucas top the latest Forbes list of celebrity billionaires. The latest Forbes ranking of the world's wealthiest people includes 18 celebrities, with film director Steven Spielberg topping the list at five-point-three-billion dollars. Star Wars creator George Lucas is in second place with a net worth of five-point-one-billion dollars.