summary
Introduced
02/06/2026
02/06/2026
In Committee
02/06/2026
02/06/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall issue an annual Freestanding Emergency Center license to a facility if the facility complies with specified requirements, except that: (i) the Freestanding Emergency Center may be located in a municipality with a population greater than 50,000 inhabitants and (ii) the Freestanding Emergency Center may, if operated as provider-based under specified federal regulations, describe itself or hold itself out to the general public as a hospital emergency department in its advertising and marketing activities.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act to allow Freestanding Emergency Centers (FECs) to be located in municipalities with populations over 50,000 inhabitants and to permit FECs that are operated as "provider-based" under specific federal regulations (42 CFR 413.65) to advertise themselves as hospital emergency departments. Provider-based means the FEC is integrated with a hospital for billing and operational purposes under federal rules. The bill maintains the requirement for the Department of Public Health to issue annual FEC licenses to facilities that meet specified operational, staffing, and service standards, including having at least one board-certified emergency physician present 24 hours a day, providing comprehensive emergency treatment, and maintaining on-site ambulance services.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred to Assignments (on 02/06/2026)
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