AB 2406, as introduced, Rodriguez. Emergency Medical Services Authority: abuse of emergency medical services.
Existing law requires the Emergency Medical Services Authority to develop planning and implementation guidelines for emergency medical services (EMS) systems that address several components, including, but not limited to, manpower and training, communications, transportation, and assessment of hospitals and critical care centers.
This bill would require the authority no later than December 1, 2015, to report to the Legislature identifying programs that have been implemented in the state by local EMS agencies to address the misuse and abuse of emergency medical services. The bill would require the report to include a summary of the specified information on the various approaches applied to serve those frequent EMS user transports and any recommendations for the implementation of a statewide program to address the misuse and abuse of emergency medical services.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:
3(a) Nonemergency calls are overloading the 911 system.
4(b) The most common nonemergency reasons given by
5transported people calling 911 requesting an ambulance include:
6“I didn’t have a ride,” “I though I might be seen more quickly by
7getting to an emergency room on an ambulance,” “I needed a
8prescription refill,” “It’s a free ride,” and “I am hungry and I know
9I will get a meal at the hospital.”
10(c) Frequent users of emergency medical services, commonly
11referred to as ambulance “frequent flyers,” are costing California
12cities millions of dollars.
According to the EMS Medical Director
13of the County of San Diego Emergency Medical Services, for
14example, 1,136 frequent users utilized the emergency medical
15services (EMS) system at least six times in 2012 and generated
16more than $20 million in ambulance and paramedic charges.
Section 1797.122 is added to the Health and Safety
18Code, to read:
(a) The authority shall prepare and submit a report
20to the Legislature identifying programs that have been implemented
21in the state by local emergency medical services agencies to address
22the misuse and abuse of emergency medical services. The report
23shall include all of the following:
24(1) A summary of the different programs implemented by local
25emergency medical services agencies to address the misuse and
26abuse of emergency medical services, including specific
27information on the various approaches applied to serve those
28frequent EMS user transports, such as:
29(A) Identification and prioritization.
30(B) Medical assessments.
31(C) Care management or comprehensive care.
32(D) Ongoing support via home visits or telephone calls.
33(E) Support to the patient and family by directing the patient
34and his or her family to available resources such as health insurance
35coverage, access to primary care and mental health services,
36transportation and other relevant social services.
P3 1(F) The financial impact of servicing frequent EMS user
2transports, including funding sources and the costs of providing
3these services.
4(G) Best practices.
5(H) Cost-saving measures to offset frequent EMS user transport
6expenses.
7(2) Any recommendations for the implementation of a statewide
8program to address the misuse and abuse of emergency medical
9services.
10(b) The report shall be submitted to the Legislature no later than
11December 1, 2015.
12(c) (1) A report submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be
13submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government
14Code.
15(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this
16section is repealed on January 1, 2019.
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