Amended in Assembly April 3, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2406

Introduced by Assembly Member Rodriguez

February 21, 2014

An act to add and repeal Section 1797.122 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to emergency medical services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2406, as amended, Rodriguez. Emergency Medical Services Authority: begin delete abuse end delete begin insert misuse end insert 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 begin delete authority end delete begin insert authority, end insert 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 begin delete and abuse end delete of emergency medical services. The bill would require the report to include a summary of begin delete the end delete 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 begin delete and abuse end delete 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:

SECTION 1.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

(a) Nonemergency calls are overloading the 911 system.

(b) The most common begin delete nonemergency reasons given by
transported people calling 911 requesting an ambulance include:
“I didn’t have a ride,” “I though I might be seen more quickly by
getting to an emergency room on an ambulance,” “I needed a
prescription refill,” “It’s a free ride,” and “I am hungry and I know
I will get a meal at the hospital.” end delete begin insert reasons that lead individuals to
overutilize emergency medical services transportation and
emergency departments include homelessness, mental illness,
extreme poverty, multiple health concerns, chronic physical
conditions, substance abuse, and most frequently, a lack of
understanding of the health care system and the availability of
more effective and appropriate alternatives. end insert

(c) Frequent users of emergency medical services, commonly
referred to as ambulance “frequent flyers,” are costing California
cities millions of dollars. According to the EMS Medical Director
of the County of San Diego Emergency Medical Services, for
example, 1,136 frequent users utilized the emergency medical
services (EMS) system at least six times in 2012 and generated
more than $20 million in ambulance and paramedic charges.

SEC. 2.  

Section 1797.122 is added to the Health and Safety
Code, to read:

1797.122.  

(a) The authority shall prepare and submit a report
to the Legislature identifying programs that have been implemented
in the state by local emergency medical services agencies to address
the misuse begin delete and abuse end delete of emergency medical services. The report
shall include all of the following:

(1) A summary of the different programs implemented by local
emergency medical services agencies to address the misuse begin delete and
abuse end delete of emergency medical services, including specific
information on the various approaches applied to serve those
frequent EMS user transports, such as:

(A) Identification and prioritization.

(B) Medical assessments.

(C) Care management or comprehensive care.

(D) Ongoing support via home visits or telephone calls.

(E) Support to the patient and family by directing the patient
and his or her family to available resources such as health insurance
coverage, access to primary care and mental health services,
transportation and other relevant social services.

(F) The financial impact of servicing frequent EMS user
transports, including funding sources and the costs of providing
these services.

(G) Best practices.

(H) Cost-saving measures to offset frequent EMS user transport
expenses.

(2) Any recommendations for the implementation of a statewide
program to address the misuse and abuse of emergency medical
services.

(b) The report shall be submitted to the Legislature no later than
December 1, 2015.

(c) (1) A report submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be
submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government
Code.

(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this
section is repealed on January 1, 2019.