HB269 Summary

• Authorizes the State Board of Health to establish and administer a community paramedicine program allowing licensed paramedics to provide community paramedic services to eligible patients.

• Defines "community paramedic" as an individual 18 years or older who is currently licensed as a paramedic, has two years of full-time paramedic service, completed an accredited community paramedic training program, and passed a state examination.

• Limits community paramedic services to coordination of services, chronic disease monitoring and education, health assessment, hospital discharge follow-up, laboratory specimen collection, medication compliance, continuation of care within medical facilities, and integrated medical care under physician oversight.

• Establishes patient eligibility criteria including individuals discharged from medical facilities without home health or hospice services, those identified by physicians as candidates for such services, and those referred for preventive services.

• Requires community paramedics to document all services and prohibits them from making diagnoses or prescribing drugs, with the State Board of Health to adopt implementing rules.