An act TO ESTABLISH AN EXEMPTION PROGRAM FOR 10 AMBULANCE SERVICE'S OPERATORS FOR CERTAIN HEALTHCARE 11 SERVICES, the official text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of Arkansas              As Engrossed: H2/20/25 H3/10/25
2 95th General Assembly
                                          A Bill

3 Regular Session, 2025                                           HOUSE BILL 1285

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5 By: Representative L. Johnson

6 By: Senator J. Boyd

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8                                For An Act To Be Entitled

9   AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AN EXEMPTION PROGRAM FOR

10  AMBULANCE SERVICE'S OPERATORS FOR CERTAIN HEALTHCARE

11  SERVICES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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14                               Subtitle

15                       TO ESTABLISH AN EXEMPTION PROGRAM FOR

16                       AMBULANCE SERVICE'S OPERATORS FOR

17                       CERTAIN HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

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19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

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21  SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 20-13-108(b), concerning the triage, treat,

22 and transport to alternative destination by an ambulance service operator, is

23 amended to read as follows:

24  (b) An Except as provided under subsection (c) of this section, an

25 ambulance service's operators may triage and transport a patient to an

26 alternative destination in this state or treat in place if the ambulance

27 service is coordinating the care of the patient through telemedicine with a

28 physician for a medical-based complaint or with a behavioral health

29 specialist for a behavioral-based complaint.

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31  SECTION 2. Arkansas Code � 20-13-108, concerning the triage, treat,

32 and transport to alternative destination by ambulance service operators, is

33 amended to add an additional subsection to read as follows:

34  (c)(1) The Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council shall develop a

35 set of protocols for 9-1-1 emergency medical situations that are exempt from

36 the telemedicine requirement under subsection (b) of this section by rule.

    *ANS033*                                                      03-10-2025 10:37:58 ANS033
    As Engrossed: H2/20/25 H3/10/25                  HB1285

1            (2) An ambulance service may:

2            (A) Adopt one (1) or more of the protocols developed under

3 subdivision (c)(1) of this section with the approval of the medical director

4 of the ambulance service; and

5            (B) Request that the council approve additional protocols

6 for 9-1-1 emergency medical situations to be exempt from the telemedicine

7 requirement under subsection (b) of this section.

8            (3) The council shall review annually all protocols exempted

9 from the telemedicine requirement developed under subdivision (c)(1) of this

10 section.

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12                                   /s/L. Johnson

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