Bill > H1963

This bill proposes several changes to the oversight of emergency medical services (EMS) in Massachusetts, primarily by establishing a new Emergency Medical Services System Executive Council and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of existing bodies. The bill defines "Executive Council" as this newly created body, which will be housed within the Department of Public Health and comprise various representatives from state agencies, regional EMS councils, and professional organizations. This Executive Council will meet quarterly to coordinate EMS efforts, advise on system development, and review regional EMS plans, which each regional EMS council will be required to submit annually by May 30th. The bill also mandates that regional EMS plans include trauma guidelines and that communication between regional councils and the department be clear and streamlined. Additionally, it outlines the composition and duties of the Executive Council, including the establishment of advisory committees like a trauma systems committee, and specifies that the department will make information about the complaint resolution process for EMS providers publicly available online. Finally, the bill requires a study on potential permanent funding sources for EMS operations and establishes an emergency medical services peer licensure advisory committee to advise the department on complaint resolution and disciplinary actions.