An Act To Reduce Emergency Rescue Costs

CONCEPT DRAFT SUMMARY

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to direct the Director of Maine Emergency Medical Services within the Department of Public Safety to establish a pilot project designed to increase response efficiency for emergency medical services personnel and reduce costs for both patients and insurers. The bill would direct the Medical Direction and Practices Board to establish a Maine Emergency Medical Services protocol that authorizes emergency medical services personnel to identify those patients that need follow-up medical care but do not have a condition serious enough to need an ambulance to the nearest hospital. Under the pilot project, emergency medical services personnel would offer to patients meeting this criterion a free voucher to cover the round trip to and from the medical provider of the patient's choice. At the conclusion of the pilot project, the Director of Maine Emergency Medical Services would be required to report to the Legislature regarding the results of the pilot project and submit recommendations regarding continuation and expansion of the pilot project and the funding of the vouchers.