105 CMR 170.000 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM.pdf

105 CMR: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

105 CMR 170.000: EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM

Section

170.001: Purpose 170.002: Authority 170.003: Citation 170.010: Scope 170.020: Definitions 170.050: The State EMS Plan 170.101: Regional Boundaries 170.102: Process for Department Designation of Regional EMS Councils 170.103: Criteria and Conditions for Department Designation of Regional EMS Councils 170.104: Duties and Functions of Regional EMS Councils 170.105: Allocation of Department Funding to Regional EMS Councils 170.106: Distribution and Use of Department Funds by Regional EMS Council 170.107: Grounds for Denial of Designation 170.108: Grounds for Revocation or Refusal to Renew Designation 170.200: Licensure of Ambulance and EFR Services 170.215: Service License and Vehicle Inspection Fee 170.220: Finding of Responsibility and Suitability for Service Licensure 170.225: Inspection 170.230: Processing of Service License Applications 170.235: Provisional Service License 170.240: Modification of a Service License 170.245: Transfer or Assignment of a Service License 170.247: Notification of Termination or Other Change of Service 170.248: Notification of Provider Contract to Respond to Emergencies 170.249: Service Zone Agreements 170.250: Display of Service License 170.255: Out-of-state Ambulance Services 170.260: Grounds for Denial of a Service License 170.265: Grounds for Revocation, Suspension, or Refusal to Renew a Service License 170.270: Effect of Suspension, Revocation or Refusal to Renew a Service License 170.275: Waiver 170.285: Certification of Vehicles and Personnel 170.290: Places of Business 170.295: Levels of Advanced Life Support 170.300: Affiliation Agreements 170.303: Registration with the Department’s Drug Control Program 170.305: Staffing 170.307: Memorandum of Agreement for ALS-level EFR Services 170.310: Requirements for Additional Personnel on Ambulances 170.315: Insurance 170.320: Public Access 170.323: Diversion Status System Access 170.325: Advertising 170.330: Written Policies and Procedures for Services 170.333: Duty to Operate in Accordance with Laws, Regulations, Protocols and Other Requirements 170.335: Non-discrimination 170.340: Appointment of Designated Infection Control Officer 170.345: Records 170.347: Data Reports to the Department 170.350: Accident Reports and Serious Incident Reporting Requirements 170.355: Responsibility to Dispatch, Treat and Transport 170.357: Point-of-entry Plans 170.360: Responsibility to Provide Appropriate Personnel During Transfer 170.365: Transport of a Deceased Person 170.370: Transport of a Person in a Wheelchair 170.373: EMT Use of Patient Restraints 170.375: Dispatch Communications 170.380: Medical Communications

Staff Typewritten Text (MA REG. #1321, Dated 9-9-16)

Section: continued

170.385: Service Availability and Backup

170.390: EMS Vehicle Readiness

170.395: Storage Space

170.400: Supplies

170.405: Waivers for Special Projects

170.410: General Requirements Regarding EMS Vehicles

170.415: Certificate of Inspection Required

170.420: Certification Procedure

170.425: Renewal of Certification

170.430: Temporary Certification for EMS Vehicles

170.435: Grounds for Denial, Suspension and Revocation of a Certificate of Inspection

170.440: Safety Inspections

170.445: Registration

170.450: All Ambulances Subject to Classification

170.455: Class I

170.460: Class II

170.465: Class IV

170.470: Class V

170.475: ALS Ambulances

170.480: Equipment and Supplies

170.485: Display of Certificate of Inspection

170.490: Ambulance Identification

170.500: Service Zone Plans

170.510: Elements of the Service Zone Plan

170.520: The Regional Service Zone Plan

170.530: Review and Approval of Service Zone Plans

170.540: Grounds for Denial of Approval of a Service Zone Plan

170.550: Update of Service Zone Plans and Redesignation of Providers

170.560: Grounds for Revocation of Service Zone Approval

170.705: Deficiencies

170.710: Plan of Correction

170.720: Correction Orders

170.730: Assessment for a Deficiency

170.740: Denial

170.750: Suspension

170.760: Revocation or Refusal to Renew

170.770: Adjudicatory Proceedings

170.780: Nonexclusivity of Enforcement Procedures

170.790: Criminal Enforcement Provisions

170.795: Complaints

170.800: EMS Personnel: General Provisions

170.805: EMS First Responder

170.810: Emergency Medical Technician - Basic

170.820: Advanced Emergency Medical Technician

170.840: Paramedic

170.850: Student Emergency Medical Technician

170.880: Emergency Medical Technicians Trained and/or Certified/Licensed in Other States

170.900: Certification of EMS Personnel Required

170.910: Initial Certification

170.920: Grounds for Denial of Certification

170.930: Renewal of EMS Personnel Certification

170.931: Emergency Medical Technicians Engaged in or Recently Discharged from Active Military

Service, or Spouses Who Accompanied Personnel Who Are Engaged in or Recently

Discharged from Active Military Service

170.935: Reinstatement of Certification

170.937: Reporting Obligations of EMS Personnel

170.940: Grounds for Suspension, Revocation of Certification, or Refusal to Renew Certification

170.941: Written Examination for EMT

170.942: Examiners and Chief Examiners: Duties and Requirements for Approval

Section: continued

or Reapproval

Nonaccredited Providers

Reapproval 170.1000: Severability

170.001: Purpose

105 CMR 170.000 is issued for the purpose of establishing a statewide, community-based Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system, in order to reduce death and disability from illness and injury through the coordination of local and regional emergency medical services resources.

It is designed to ensure that properly trained and certified EMS personnel, operating under medical oversight, provide emergency medical care to patients at the scene of their illness or injury, and during transport to appropriate health care facilities. It establishes standards for EMS vehicles and equipment, and standards to ensure safe, adequate transport to an appropriate health care facility in the shortest practicable time. 105 CMR 170.000 also provides for scheduled, routine transport of non-emergent patients to appropriate destinations.

170.002: Authority

105 CMR 170.000 is adopted under the authority of M.G.L. c. 111C and M.G.L. c. 30A, § 2.

170.003: Citation

105 CMR 170.000 shall be known and may be cited as 105 CMR 170.000: Emergency Medical Services System.

170.010: Scope

105 CMR 170.000 governs the EMS system, as defined in St. 2000, c. 54, § 1, M.G.L. c. 111C and 105 CMR 170.020.

170.020: Definitions

The definitions set forth in 105 CMR 170.020 shall apply for the purpose of 105 CMR 170.000, unless the context or subject matter clearly requires a different interpretation.

Accreditation means the process by which a certificate is issued by the Department pursuant to 105 CMR 170.946 through 170.950 indicating that the holder has met the requirements for providing Department-approved training for EMTs and EMT-candidates.

Administrative Requirements (A/R) means requirements issued by the Department’s Office of Emergency Medical Services to interpret, clarify and further define the application of certain provisions of 105 CMR 170.000.

170.020: continued

Advanced EMT means the level of EMS personnel that has replaced "EMT-Intermediate" as set forth, at a minimum, in the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National EMS Scope of Practice Model and as used in its National EMS Education Standards. The Advanced EMT’s clinical practice is defined by the Statewide Treatment Protocols.

Advanced Life Support (ALS) means the pre-hospital use of medical techniques and skills defined by the Statewide Treatment Protocols by EMTs certified pursuant to 105 CMR 170.000.

Ambulance means any aircraft, boat, motor vehicle, or any other means of transportation, however named, whether privately or publicly owned, which is intended to be used for, and is maintained and operated for, the response to and the transportation of sick or injured individuals.

Ambulance Service means the business or regular activity, whether for profit or not, of providing emergency medical services, emergency response, primary ambulance response, pre-hospital emergency care, with or without transportation, to sick or injured individuals by ambulance.

Appropriate Health Care Facility means an emergency department, either physically located within an acute care hospital licensed by the Department pursuant to 105 CMR 130.000: Hospital Licensure to provide emergency services, or in a satellite emergency facility approved by the Department pursuant to 105 CMR 130.821: Approval, that is closest geographically or conforms to a Department-approved point-of-entry plan.

Authorization to Practice means approval granted to an EMT by his or her employing EMS service's affiliate hospital medical director, which enables that EMT to work as an EMT and receive medical control pursuant to the employing service's affiliation agreement and in conformance with the Statewide Treatment Protocols.

Basic Life Support (BLS) means the pre-hospital use of techniques and skills defined by the Statewide Treatment Protocols by EMTs certified pursuant to 105 CMR 170.000.

Certificate of Inspection means the formal acknowledgment, issued pursuant to 105 CMR 170.415, that the EMS vehicle meets the standards applicable to its type or class of vehicle.

Certification of EMTs means a process by which a certificate is issued by the Department indicating that the holder has met the requirements for an EMT at a specified level of training established by the Department.

Chief Examiner means a person appointed by the Department who is responsible for the organization and operation of a Department-approved EMT examination at a specific site.

CMED means the medical communications subsystem within the statewide EMS communications system.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) means the national accrediting organization for educational programs in allied health professions, which reviews and accredits EMS programs in collaboration with its Committee on Accreditation of Emergency Medical Services Professions (COAEMSP).

Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) means the national accrediting organization for air medical and ground transport systems providing critical care services.

Commissioner means the Commissioner of Public Health.

Company means a corporation, a partnership, a business trust, an association, or an organized group of persons, whether incorporated or not; or any receiver, trustee, or other liquidating agent of any of the foregoing while acting in such capacity.

Critical Care Services means the provision by an ambulance service of prehospital or interfacility patient care, stabilization, and transport services to critically ill and injured patients, using medical techniques, pharmacology, and technological life support systems that exceed those in the Statewide Treatment Protocols, including the ALS Interfacility Transfer Protocol, and as set out by the ambulance service and approved by the Department.

Continuing Education means instructional courses for certified EMS personnel to meet training requirements for maintenance of certification.

Department means the Department of Public Health.

Diversion Status System shall mean a web-based application established by the Department to allow hospitals, CMED centers and ambulance services access to real-time information regarding the diversion status of all appropriate health care facilities in Massachusetts licensed to provide emergency services.

Emergency means a condition or situation in which an individual has a need for immediate medical attention, or where the potential for such need is perceived by the individual, a bystander or an emergency medical services provider.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) means the pre-hospital assessment, treatment and other services utilized in responding to an emergency or provided during the emergency or inter-facility transport of patients to appropriate health care facilities.

EMS First Responder (EFR) means a person certified pursuant to 105 CMR 170.000 who has, at a minimum, successfully completed a course in emergency medical care approved by the Department pursuant to M.G.L. c. 111, § 201 and 105 CMR 171.000: Massachusetts First Responder Training and who provides emergency medical care through employment by or in association with a licensed EFR service.

EMS First Response means the dispatch and response by the closest, most appropriate EMS personnel or EMS vehicle in the shortest practicable amount of time by a qualified EMS first response service.

EMS First Response Service (EFR Service) means the business or regular activity, whether for profit or not, by a licensed EMS provider, designated as a service zone provider pursuant to a Department-approved service zone plan for the purpose of providing rapid response and EMS.

EMS First Response Vehicle (EFR Vehicle) means any aircraft, boat, motor vehicle or any other means of transportation, whether privately or publicly owned, that is intended and is maintained and operated for the rapid response of EMS personnel, equipment and supplies to emergencies by an EFR service or by an ambulance service and is not utilized for patient transport.

EMS Personnel means EFRs and EMTs.

EMS Plan means a plan that includes an inventory and assessment of EMS resources and a plan for the optimal maintenance, coordination and utilization of those resources:

(1) to improve the EMS system and its component elements; and

(2) to coordinate with all state and municipal public safety agencies’ mass casualty and other public emergency plans.

EMS Provider means the following:

(1) an EFR service, an ambulance service, or a hospital or facility approved by the Department to provide EMS, including, without limitation, a trauma center, or

(2) any individual associated with an EFR service, an ambulance service, or a hospital or facility approved by the Department to provide EMS, who is engaged in providing EMS.

Such individuals include, without limitation, an EMT, an EFR, a medical communications system operator and a medical control physician, to the extent such physician provides EMS.

EMS System means all EMS providers and equipment; communications systems linking them to each other; training and education programs; the Regional EMS Councils and all of their operations; EMS plans, protocols, statutes, regulations, administrative requirements and guidelines; and all other components of such system, and their interaction with each other and with patients, providing equally for all patients quality care, operating under the leadership and direction of the Department.

EMS Vehicle means an ambulance or an EMS first response vehicle.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) means a person who has successfully completed a full course in emergency medical care approved by the Department, and who is certified by the Department in accordance with 105 CMR 170.000 to provide emergency medical services to sick or injured persons in accordance with the Statewide Treatment Protocols. The term EMT shall include EMT-basic, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic.

Emergency Response means the dispatch and response of the closest appropriate ambulance, EMS personnel and other EMS vehicle to an emergency in the shortest practicable amount of time in conformance with the service zone plan.

EMT-basic means the level "Emergency Medical Technician," or "EMT" as set forth, at a minimum, in the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National EMS Scope of Practice Model and as used in its National EMS Education Standards. The term also includes EMT-basics who are taking the supplemental training required to meet the EMT level of the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, in accordance with administrative requirements of the Department. The EMT-basic’s clinical practice is defined by the Statewide Treatment Protocols.

EMT-intermediate means the level of EMS personnel that has been replaced by "Advanced EMT" and is being transitioned out of use in Massachusetts, in accordance with administrative requirements of the Department.

First Responder means a member of any of the following entities: a police or fire department;

state police participating in highway patrol; an emergency reserve unit of a volunteer fire department or fire protection district, and any persons appointed permanent or temporary lifeguards by the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions. A first responder shall not mean a police officer, firefighter or person engaged in police and fire work whose duties are primarily clerical or administrative. First responders are required to successfully complete, at a minimum, the course of emergency medical care that meets the standards of M.G.L. c. 111, § 201 and 105 CMR 171.000: Massachusetts First Responder Training.

First Responder Agency means a police department, a fire department, the state police participating in highway patrol, an emergency reserve unit of a volunteer fire department or fire protection district, or the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions that appoints permanent or temporary lifeguards. A first responder agency shall not mean a service that is a licensed EFR service.

Headquarters means the principal place of business of an EMS provider.

Hospital means a hospital that is licensed or certified by the Department pursuant to M.G.L. c. 111, § 51 or other applicable law, with an emergency department, and the teaching hospital of the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Initial Training means an educational program that meets or exceeds the current U.S.

Department of Transportation's National EMS Education Standards and Instructional Guidelines for EMT-Basic, Advanced EMT or Paramedic, and any additional standards established by the Department, and consists of didactic, clinical and field training, to prepare students to become certified EMTs at the applicable level of care.

Immediate Dispatch means dispatching, or toning out or calling for an ambulance, to be sent out, without any delay, when a call to respond to an emergency is received. Immediate dispatch includes the toning out for on-call or volunteer personnel to respond to and staff an ambulance.

Instructor/Coordinator (I/C) means a person approved by the Department to organize and teach the Basic EMT course.

License means an authorization to provide ambulance or EMS first response service, pursuant to the provisions of 105 CMR 170.000.

Local Jurisdiction means an entity empowered by the legislative body within a city, town, fire district or water district to select service zone providers, including, but not limited to, a city council, board of selectmen, board of aldermen, mayor or town manager.

Massachusetts Emergency Medical Care Advisory Board (EMCAB) means the EMS System Advisory Board established under M.G.L. c. 111C, § 13.

Medical Control means the clinical oversight by a qualified physician to all components of the EMS system, including, without limitation, the Statewide Treatment Protocols, medical direction, training of and authorization to practice for EMS personnel, quality assurance and continuous quality improvement.

Medical Direction means the authorization for treatment established in the Statewide Treatment Protocols provided by a qualified medical control physician to EMS personnel, whether on-line, via direct communication or telecommunication, or off-line, via standing orders.

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) means the national organization that tests and provides NREMT certification to EMTs at all levels, on the basis of which EMTs apply to states for state certification or licensure to work as an EMT.

Paramedic means the level of EMS personnel that has replaced "EMT-paramedic" as set forth, at a minimum, in the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National EMS Scope of Practice Model and as used in its National EMS Education Standards. Paramedic also includes EMT-paramedics who are taking the supplemental training required to meet the Paramedic level of the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, in accordance with administrative requirements of the Department. The Paramedic’s clinical practice is defined by the Statewide Treatment Protocols.

Patient means an individual who is sick or injured and requires EMS and/or transportation in an ambulance.

Patient Care Report means a report or other written record, such as a dispatch record, generated by all services to document every response to an EMS call, including each time an EMS vehicle is dispatched, whether or not a patient is encountered or ultimately transported by an ambulance service.

Person means an individual, a company, or an entity or an agency or political subdivision of the Commonwealth.

Place of Business means the locations owned, leased or used pursuant to an agreement by an EMS provider for EMS purposes, including headquarters, branch offices and garages.

Point-of-entry Plan means a plan that is designed to ensure that EMTs transport a patient(s) in their care to the closest appropriate health care facility.

Primary Ambulance Response means first-line ambulance response, pre-hospital treatment and transportation by an ambulance service designated as a service zone provider or recognized in the service zone plan to provide first-line ambulance response, pre-hospital treatment and transportation pursuant to a provider contract.

Primary Ambulance Service means the business or regular activity, whether for profit or not, by a licensed ambulance service, designated under a service zone plan for the purpose of providing rapid response and pre-hospital EMS, including, without limitation, patient assessment, patient treatment, patient preparation for transport and patient transport to appropriate health care facilities, in conformance with the service zone plan.

Provider Contract means an agreement, written or verbal, with an ambulance service to provide primary ambulance response to facilities with health care professionals on site, or to special events or functions with a dedicated ambulance on site. This definition shall not preclude any other category of provider contract that is recognized by the local jurisdiction in the service zone plan.

Region means a geographic area of the state defined by the Department as an EMS planning area.

Regional EMS Council means an entity created pursuant to M.G.L. c. 111C, § 4 and designated by the Department to assist the Department in establishing, coordinating, maintaining and improving the EMS system in a region.

Regular Operating Area means any local jurisdiction or part thereof in which the ambulance service:

(1) is the designated primary ambulance service;

(2) has an agreement with the primary ambulance service;

(3) has an agreement to provide backup service;

(4) has a provider contract; or

(5) has a base location.

Service means an EFR service or an ambulance service.

Service Zone means a geographic area defined by and comprised of one or more local jurisdictions, in which a local jurisdiction may select, and the Department shall designate, an EFR service and an ambulance service to provide EMS first response and primary ambulance response to the public within that defined geographic area, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 111C, § 10.

Service Zone Provider means an EMS provider, selected by a local jurisdiction and designated by the Department to provide primary ambulance service or EMS first response, or both, to the public within a service zone. A service zone provider shall be staffed and equipped to be available for primary ambulance service or EMS first response 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a week.

Special Population means any person or group of persons with unique medical, physical or social problems that require other than customary emergency medical care.

Statewide Treatment Protocols means the Emergency Medical Services Pre-hospital Treatment Protocols approved by the Department for application statewide.

Training Institution means a school or other entity that offers initial training and/or continuing education, and refers to such school or other organization only with regard to its provision of EMS training programs.

Training Program means an EMS instructional course, offered either as initial training, or continuing education.

Trip Record means a patient care report.

Transportation means the conveyence of a patient by ambulance because of medical necessity or extenuating circumstances to prevent significant aggravation or deterioration of the patient's condition, or because the condition of the patient is unknown and could reasonably be suspected to warrant the use of an ambulance, or because the patient could not be moved by any other means.

Trauma means tissue injury due to the direct effects of externally applied mechanical, thermal, electrical, electromagnetic or nuclear energy, as further defined in the Statewide Treatment Protocols. Trauma shall not mean toxic ingestion, poisoning or foreign body ingestion.

Unique Population means the population of a state institution, an industrial plant or a university.

170.050: The State EMS Plan

(A) The Department shall develop and implement the state EMS plan, in consultation with the Regional EMS Councils. The state EMS plan shall be updated at least every three years. The state EMS plan shall:

(1) identify goals and specific, measurable objectives for each component of the delivery of statewide EMS services, listed at 105 CMR 170.050(B);

(2) identify methods to be used in achieving the stated objectives;

(3) identify a method for evaluating achievement of the stated objectives;

(4) include an estimate of costs for achieving each of the stated objectives, with projected funding sources.

(B) The components to be addressed in the state EMS plan include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) EMS resources, their costs and distribution throughout the state;

(2) Accessible hospitals, including trauma centers and other health care facilities;

(3) Inter-facility transport of patients to hospitals, or other programs or facilities for follow-up care and rehabilitation;

(4) Training, continuing education and certification of EMS personnel, licensure of EMS services and needs of special populations, including children;

(5) Communications systems for EMS, including but not limited to CMEDs;

(6) Medical control and medical direction, including the Statewide Treatment Protocols;

(7) Standardized patient data collection systems;

(8) Evaluation and continuous quality improvement;

(9) Research studies;

(10) Mass casualty incidents, natural disasters, large scale events and declared states of emergency;

(11) The status of local service zone planning, including a complete list of communities that are not yet covered by a Department-approved service zone plan. This list shall be included in the Department’s annual report filed with the Legislature; and

(12) Programs for public education and prevention of injury and illness.

(C) All regional EMS plans developed pursuant to 105 CMR 170.104 shall be consistent with the state EMS plan, and shall be updated as frequently as the state plan is updated.

170.101: Regional Boundaries

The Department recognizes five geographic regions, as they existed on March 30, 2000. In each of these regions, the Department shall designate for a three-year renewable term a single Regional EMS Council to assist in the development of regional emergency medical services systems. Any regional group seeking designation must apply for designation on forms provided by the Department and submit all documents required by the Department for evaluation pursuant to 105 CMR 170.103.

170.102: Process for Department Designation of Regional EMS Councils

(A) Designation of Regional EMS Councils shall be made by the Department after appropriate evaluation and investigation of applicants and after a review of documentary evidence which demonstrates that the applicant has met the criteria and conditions for designation as set forth in 105 CMR 170.103. In addition, the Department shall consult with the Massachusetts Emergency Medical Care Advisory Board.

(B) In the event that two applicants from the same region apply for designation, the Department shall designate the applicant who most completely fulfills the designation criteria.

170.103: Criteria and Conditions for Department Designation of Regional EMS Councils

Each applicant for designation as a Regional EMS Council shall be evaluated on the basis of all of the following criteria and conditions:

(A) Evidence of support for designation as a Regional EMS Council from a substantial number of municipal governments, hospitals, and ambulance services geographically distributed within the area covered by the proposed Regional EMS Council;

(B) A commitment to cooperate with the Department in its effort to carry out its authority and responsibility as defined in M.G.L. c. 111C;

(C) A commitment to adopt a regional EMS plan within one year of adoption of the state EMS plan, pursuant to 105 CMR 170.050.

(D) Regional Council Membership and Meetings.

(1) Each Council shall be established through a fair and open selection process. It shall be structured so as to reflect equitably the entire geographic region, as well as the interests of the component entities of the EMS system. The Council shall be made up of at least ten persons, but no more than 35 members. At minimum, the Council shall have the following representation:

(a) one representing local governments;

(b) one designated by a hospital;

(c) one designated by a fire suppression service;

(d) one designated by a primary ambulance service;

(e) one designated by a law enforcement agency;

(f) one of whom is a licensed practicing physician with regular and frequent involvement in the provision of emergency care;

(g) one of whom is an emergency care nurse;

(h) one of whom is an EMT;

(i) one of whom is designated by an EMS first response service; and

(j) one of whom is a consumer.

(2) Council membership shall reflect fairly and equitably representation from each geographic area throughout the region.

(3) Meetings shall be held with sufficient frequency to ensure execution of duties and functions and to ensure that adequate information is transmitted to and from the organizations, groups, professions, occupations, services, and/or disciplines and consumers represented by the respective Council members.

170.103: continued

(4) All meetings, whether held separately or in conjunction with the Regional EMS Council, at which the business of the Council or Councils is conducted, shall be held as required by, and in conformance with M.G.L. c. 30A, § 11A, the open meeting law.

(E) Bylaws: Each Regional EMS Council shall draft and maintain updated bylaws. Bylaws shall be submitted to the Department, as updated, for its review and evaluation, and shall at minimum address the following:

(1) A selection process for Council members and officers;

(2) Enumerated duties and responsibilities of Council members and officers, including requirements for fair and equitable representation of the entire region and all component entities of the EMS system therein served by the Regional EMS Council, and periodic and regular reports to the Council; and

(3) A committee structure designed to facilitate duties and functions, and the achievement of the regional EMS plan.

(F) Regional EMS Councils, their members, officers and agents shall comply with M.G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, and conflict of interest provisions set out in their contracts with the Department.

170.104: Duties and Functions of Regional EMS Councils

Regional EMS Councils shall carry out the following duties and functions:

(A) Assist, support and cooperate with the Department in its efforts to carry out the provisions of M.G.L. c. 111C to coordinate, maintain and improve the EMS system;

(B) Assist the Department, upon the Department’s request, in collecting and maintaining data and information as required by the Department, subject to and in compliance with the confidentiality requirements of the Department;

(C) Serve as the central administrative body to provide information, education and technical assistance on EMS system planning and coordination to local jurisdictions and EMS system providers and users in their region;

(D) Establish a liaison with other regional health care organizations or institutions such as local Boards of Health;

(E) Establish a liaison with other Regional EMS Councils, as necessary;

(F) Submit to the Department all EMS-related proposed policies, procedures and studies for review and approval prior to implementation. The Department shall act on the proposed policies, procedures and studies within 90 days of receipt;

(G) Assess and coordinate EMS within the region, by evaluating distribution, accessibility and quality of basic and advanced life support services with the goal of fostering improvement where necessary to assure the availability of competent basic and advanced life support services throughout the region.

(H) Develop, submit to the Department for its approval, and implement Department-approved point-of-entry plans that are in conformance with the Statewide Treatment Protocols and other relevant regulations, policies, interpretative guidelines and administrative requirements of the Department. Such point-of-entry plans shall reflect and include, as appropriate, Department designations of hospitals for specialty care services, pursuant to 105 CMR 130.000: Hospital Licensure.

170.104: continued

(I) Assist the Department in assuring quality educational programs for EMS personnel by:

(1) Assessing the need for and availability of educational programs in their region;

(2) Evaluating the quality of educational programs;

(3) Serving as a central clearinghouse for available training equipment and supplies including equipment and supplies owned by the Department or purchased with funds obtained from the Department; and

(4) Reviewing training programs for EMS personnel for the purpose of making recommendations for approval to the Department.

(J) Assist the Department in establishing, coordinating and maintaining communications systems that are compatible with established Department policies and plans;

(K) Forward to the Department all information regarding possible violations of 105 CMR

170.000 for investigation and enforcement by the Department. The Department may, in its discretion, request that Regional EMS Councils, under the direction of the Department, assist in certain investigations and enforcement;

(L) Develop a regional EMS plan that is consistent with the state EMS plan pursuant to 105 CMR 170.050, within one year of completion of the state EMS plan. Regional plans shall be amended as frequently as the state EMS plan is updated. The Regional EMS Council shall submit the plan to the Department for review and approval prior to its implementation. The plan shall contain at a minimum:

(1) A statement of goals and specific, measurable objectives for each component of the plan for delivery of emergency medical services, consistent with the format of the state EMS plan and its components;

(2) Methods to be used in achieving the stated objectives;

(3) A schedule for achievement of the stated objectives;

(4) A method for evaluating achievement of the stated objectives; and,

(5) Estimated and itemized costs for achieving each of the stated objectives, with projected funding sources.

(M) Perform the following functions with respect to service zone planning in their regions:

(1) Develop an inventory of EMS resources in the region, and make the inventories available to local jurisdictions for service zone planning;

(2) Provide planning and technical assistance to local jurisdictions in their region in identifying, coordinating and making optimal use of all available EMS resources within the service zone;

(3) Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 111C, § 10(b), consult with the local jurisdiction(s) comprising each service zone in their region and review and recommend their local service zone plans to the Department, for the Department’s review and approval;

(4) Develop a regional service zone plan, pursuant to 105 CMR 170.520, and submit it to the Department for approval; and

(5) Update and keep current information in local and regional service zone plans.

(N) Appoint a Regional Medical Director who is a qualified emergency physician;

(O) Prepare and submit annual reports to the Department for its review and evaluation, prior to the commencement of each fiscal year;

(P) Prepare and maintain records relating to Regional EMS Councils’ responsibilities pursuant to M.G.L. c. 111C, 105 CMR 170.000 and contracts with the Department, and make such records available to the Department in full for inspection upon request; and

(Q) Carry out the duties and functions required by the scope of services in Regional EMS Council contracts with the Department.

170.105: Allocation of Department Funding to Regional EMS Councils

(A) All five Regional EMS Councils shall be awarded on an equal basis a baseline annual appropriation to carry out their core duties and functions pursuant to 105 CMR 170.104 and their contracts with the Department.

170.105: continued

(B) The Department may allocate additional funds to selective Regional EMS Councils, on the basis of factors indicating their different resource requirements and volume of duties, including but not limited to the following:

(1) number of cities and towns;

(2) number of service zones;

(3) number of health care facilities requiring designation; or

(4) unmet communications needs.

170.106: Distribution and Use of Department Funds by Regional EMS Councils

(A) Regional EMS Councils may distribute and use Department funds, consistent with their contracts with the Department, for purposes defined in 105 CMR 170.000, including:

(1) maintaining and operating the Regional EMS Councils;

(2) maintaining and operating CMED centers; or

(3) carrying out their duties and functions under 105 CMR 170.104 and contracts with the Department.

(B) Commencing in FY 2002, except as provided by the requirements set out in the Councils’ contracts with the Department, Regional EMS Councils shall not distribute and use Department funds to provide training for EMS personnel, if such training:

(1) conflicts with the Councils’ duties and responsibilities under 105 CMR 170.104 or their contracts with the Department; or

(2) is provided by any educational or other entity with which the Councils would directly compete in the marketplace.

(C) Effective December 31, 2006, any Department funds distributed to local jurisdictions by Regional EMS Councils, in accordance with 105 CMR 170.106, shall be distributed to only those local jurisdictions covered by a Department-approved service zone plan.

170.107: Grounds for Denial of Designation

(A) The Department may deny or refuse to issue designation in the following circumstances:

(1) If the applicant fails to meet or conform to the designation criteria and conditions of 105 CMR 170.103; or

(2) If a competing application for designation was already granted.

(B) An applicant denied designation may reapply when the designation criteria and conditions have been met, providing no other applicant has been designated in the interim.

(C) Denial of designation may be appealed in accordance with 105 CMR 170.760.

170.108: Grounds for Revocation or Refusal to Renew Designation

(A) The Department may revoke or refuse to renew the designation of a Regional EMS Council in the following circumstances:

(1) Failure to maintain the standards required by the designation criteria and conditions of

105 CMR 170.103;

(2) Failure to fulfill duties and functions as set forth in M.G.L. c. 111C, 105 CMR 170.000 and contracts with the Department;

(3) Engaging in fraud or deceit to obtain or maintain designation, or in carrying out duties and functions under 105 CMR 170.000 and contracts with the Department;

(4) Any action or omission that endangers the health or safety of the public;

(5) Violation of a correction order; or

(6) Failure to comply with a plan of correction.

(B) Revocation or refusal to renew designation may be appealed in accordance with 105 CMR 170.760.

170.200: Licensure of Ambulance and EFR Services

(A) No person shall establish, operate or maintain an ambulance or EFR service without a valid license or in violation of the terms of a valid license. All services shall be licensed as provided in 105 CMR 170.000. Any person who proposes to establish or operate a service shall apply for and obtain from the Department a license before initiating service.

(B) Ambulance services may be licensed at the BLS, ALS, or critical care service level, and EFR services may be licensed at the EMS first response, BLS or ALS level. Licensure as an ambulance service at a particular level of service includes licensure to provide ambulance or EFR service at the same or lower level of service.

(C) Ambulance and EFR service licenses shall identify and reflect the number of EMS vehicles to be operated, the classification of each certified EMS vehicle to be operated and maintained, and the level of service at each place of business. No service shall operate at a level of service above that for which it is licensed.

(D) To be eligible for licensure at the critical care services level, the applicant must document the following:

(1) Current licensure from the Department as an ambulance service at the ALS-Paramedic level;

(2) Current written affiliation agreement between a hospital and the applicant, meeting the requirements of 105 CMR 170.300, under which the hospital shall provide oversight of the delivery of critical care services and designate a medical director to have authority over the clinical and patient care aspects of critical care services; and

(3) (a) As of December 1, 2006, current accreditation, in good standing, from the CAMTS, its successor(s), or an accreditation program the Department approves as substantially equivalent to CAMTS, or

(b) Prior to December 1, 2006, current CAMTS accreditation or pending application for accreditation by CAMTS or an accreditation program the Department approves as substantially equivalent to CAMTS, provided, however, that the applicant must achieve such accreditation and notify the Department of such accreditation no later than December 1, 2006.

170.215: Service License and Vehicle Inspection Fee

A non-refundable fee established by the Department, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 111C, § 3(b)(21), shall be submitted (1) with the completed application for license form, and (2) upon acquisition of any additional vehicles during the licensure period. The fees are as follows:

(A) Service License.

(1) Ambulance BLS: $400.00 biennially

(2) Ambulance ALS: $600.00 annually

(3) Ambulance Critical Care Services: $750 annually

(4) EFR service at EMS first response level only: $100.00 biennially

(5) EFR service BLS: $150.00 biennially

(6) EFR service ALS: $200.00 annually

(B) Ambulance Vehicle and EFR Service Equipment Inspection.

(1) Ambulance, BLS and ALS: $200.00 per vehicle, for each inspection.

(2) EFR service, ALS: $50.00 for inspection of each EFR vehicle’s EMS equipment and supplies.

170.220: Finding of Responsibility and Suitability for Service Licensure

(A) Upon receipt and review of a complete application or reapplication for ambulance or EFR service licensure, the Department shall make a finding concerning the responsibility and suitability of each applicant. Findings may be based upon information concerning persons with a significant financial or management interest in the service. Factors that have significant bearing in determining the responsibility and suitability of an applicant include, but are not limited to, the following:

170.220: continued

(1) The applicant’s history of prior compliance with 105 CMR 170.000, 105 CMR 171.000;

applicable administrative requirements issued by the Department pursuant to 105 CMR

170.000 and M.G.L. c. 111C;

(2) The familiarity and experience of the applicant in operating ambulance services, other emergency medical services or first response services, including compliance history in other states in which the applicant has operated a licensed ambulance service;

(3) The applicant's ability to provide and sustain on an ongoing basis, sufficient quality and quantity of ambulance or EMS first response service in a service zone or portion thereof, in accordance with a service zone plan, or, prior to the existence of an approved service zone plan, in a geographic area;

(4) Any willful or deliberate failure to provide ambulance or EMS first response service to a person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry or disability;

(5) Any willful or deliberate failure to provide ambulance or EMS first response service to any patient experiencing an emergency;

(6) The ability and willingness to take corrective action when notified by the Department of violations of 105 CMR 170.000 or 171.000: Massachusetts First Responder Training;

(7) The ability of service administrators to operate the service in a manner sufficient to satisfy the requirements of 105 CMR 170.000 or 171.000: Massachusetts First Responder Training and administrative requirements of the Department issued thereunder;

(8) Whether the applicant has a past history of patient abuse, mistreatment, or neglect;

(9) Whether the financial resources of the applicant are deemed adequate to provide ambulance or EMS first response service sufficient to meet the requirements of 105 CMR

170.000 and the applicable service zone plan, as demonstrated by a current budget or a current annual financial statement;

(10) Whether the applicant is of sufficient moral character to allow the Department, acting in good faith, to permit the applicant to render ambulance or EMS first response services.

Presumptions of unsuitability will be made against:

(a) An applicant convicted of Medicare or Medicaid fraud.

(b) An applicant convicted of a crime relating to the operation of the service.

(c) An applicant convicted of drug abuse, rape, assault or other violent crimes against a person.

(d) An applicant who has been the subject of an order or judgment granting damages or equitable relief in an action brought by the Attorney General concerning the operation of the applicant’s ambulance service, other emergency medical services or first response services.

(11) The adequacy of the service's legal capacity to operate, as demonstrated by such documents as articles of incorporation and corporate by-laws;

(12) Any attempt to impede the work of a duly authorized representative of the Department or the lawful enforcement of any provisions of M.G.L. c. 111C or 105 CMR 170.000; and

(13) Any attempt to obtain a license or certificate of inspection by fraud, misrepresentation, or the submission of false information.

(B) If the Department is unable to make a finding of responsibility and suitability due to the existence of any of the factors listed in 105 CMR 170.220(A)(1) through (13), the applicant will then have the burden of persuasion to prove the applicant's responsibility or suitability.

170.225: Inspection

(A) Ambulance Service Inspection. Agents of the Department may visit and inspect an ambulance service at any time, including:

(1) The premises of the ambulance service, including the headquarters, garage or other locations;

(2) The storage space for linen, equipment and supplies at any premises of the ambulance service;

(3) All records of the ambulance service, including but not limited to, employee application forms, policies and procedures; dispatch reports, incident and accident reports, patient care reports; information relating to complaints registered with the service, and all other records, memoranda of agreement and affiliation agreements required by 105 CMR 170.000; and

(4) Any vehicle used by the service.

170.225: continued

(B) EFR Service Inspection. Agents of the Department may visit and inspect an EFR service at any time, including:

(1) All records pertaining to the provision of EMS services including, but not limited to, employee records, policies and procedures for EMS personnel; dispatch and EMS response reports; incident and accident reports and patient care reports; memoranda of agreements and affiliation agreements required by 105 CMR 170.000; and information relating to complaints regarding provision of EMS by the service; and

(2) The EMS-related equipment used by the service.

(C) If upon inspection deficiencies are found to exist a service may at the discretion of the Department be licensed upon presentation of a timely written acceptable plan of correction, as described in 105 CMR 170.710.

170.230: Processing of Service License Applications

(A) The Department shall issue a license to those applicants meeting the requirements of 105 CMR 170.000.