BILL NUMBER: AB 2406	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 23, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 3, 2014

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: misuse 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,   July 31, 2016,  to  prepare
and submit a  report to the Legislature identifying programs
that have been implemented in the state by local EMS agencies to
address the misuse of emergency medical services. The bill would
require the report to include a summary of 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 of emergency medical
services.  The bill would specify that the authority may satisfy
the report requirement described above by working in partnership with
and directing a nonprofit agency to compile and publish the
information required in the report, or in lieu of a report, the bill
would authorize the authority to provide for a discussion of
innovative programs before local emergency medical services agencies,
local governments, and private agencies that addresses the misuse of
emergency medical services.  
   The bill would make legislative findings and declarations relating
to the misuse 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 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   and,  most frequently, a lack of
understanding of the health care system and the availability of more
effective and appropriate alternatives.
   (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   Except as provided in
subdivision (d), 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 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 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   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.   July 31, 2016. 
   (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. 
   (d) To satisfy the report requirement described in subdivision
(a), the authority may do either of the following:  
   (1) Work in a partnership with and direct a nonprofit agency to
compile and publish the information described in subdivision (a). The
authority shall provide this information to the Legislature in
accordance with subdivisions (b) and (c).  
   (2) In lieu of a report, the authority may provide for a
discussion of innovative programs before local emergency services
agencies, local governments, and private agencies that addresses the
misuse of emergency medical services.