HB126 Summary

• Exempts air ambulance services from jurisdiction of the State Health Planning and Development Agency (SHPDA) and eliminates the requirement to obtain a certificate of need to operate.

• Defines air ambulance as either fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft that provides medically necessary services or supplies by air.

• Removes air ambulance services from all provisions of the existing health planning article, addressing federal court rulings that state authority to regulate air ambulance services is preempted by federal aviation law.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval by the Governor.