HB3994eng 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3994 Engrossed LRB096 05917 DRJ 22420 b

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act is amended by adding Section 3.86 as follows:

(210 ILCS 50/3.86 new)

Sec. 3.86. Stretcher van providers.

(a) In this Section, "stretcher van provider" means an entity licensed by the Department to provide non-emergency transportation of passengers on a stretcher in compliance with this Act or the rules adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, utilizing stretcher vans.

(b) The Department has the authority and responsibility to do the following:

(1) Require all stretcher van providers, both publicly and privately owned, to be licensed by the Department.

(2) Establish licensing and safety standards and requirements for stretcher van providers, through rules adopted pursuant to this Act, including but not limited to:

(A) Vehicle design, specification, operation, and maintenance standards.

(B) Safety equipment requirements and standards.

(C) Staffing requirements.

(D) Annual license renewal.

(3) License all stretcher van providers that have met the Department's requirements for licensure.

(4) Annually inspect all licensed stretcher van providers, and relicense providers that have met the Department's requirements for license renewal.

(5) Suspend, revoke, refuse to issue, or refuse to renew the license of any stretcher van provider, or that portion of a license pertaining to a specific vehicle operated by a provider, after an opportunity for a hearing, when findings show that the provider or one or more of its vehicles has failed to comply with the standards and requirements of this Act or the rules adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act.

(6) Issue an emergency suspension order for any provider or vehicle licensed under this Act when the Director or his or her designee has determined that an immediate or serious danger to the public health, safety, and welfare exists. Suspension or revocation proceedings that offer an opportunity for a hearing shall be promptly initiated after the emergency suspension order has been issued.

(7) Prohibit any stretcher van provider from advertising, identifying its vehicles, or disseminating information in a false or misleading manner concerning the provider's type and level of vehicles, location, response times, level of personnel, licensure status, or EMS System participation.

(8) Charge each stretcher van provider a fee, to be submitted with each application for licensure and license renewal, which shall not exceed $25 per vehicle, up to $500 per provider.

(c) A stretcher van provider may provide transport of a passenger on a stretcher, provided the passenger meets all of the following requirements:

(1) He or she needs no medical equipment, except self-administered medications.

(2) He or she needs no medical monitoring or medical observation.

(3) He or she needs routine transportation to or from a medical appointment or service if the passenger is convalescent or otherwise bed-confined and does not require medical monitoring, aid, care, or treatment during transport.

(d) A stretcher van provider may not transport a passenger who meets any of the following conditions:

(1) He or she is currently admitted to a hospital or is being transported to a hospital for admission or emergency treatment.

(2) He or she is acutely ill, wounded, or medically unstable as determined by a licensed physician.

(3) He or she is experiencing an emergency medical condition, an acute medical condition, an exacerbation of a chronic medical condition, or a sudden illness or injury.

(4) He or she was administered a medication that might prevent the passenger from caring for himself or herself.

(5) He or she was moved from one environment where 24-hour medical monitoring or medical observation will take place by certified or licensed nursing personnel to another such environment. Such environments shall include, but not be limited to, hospitals licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act or operated under the University of Illinois Hospital Act, and nursing facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.