CT HB06518

Expands disciplinary authority of the Commissioner of Public Health to include emergency medical technicians, emergency medical responders, advanced emergency medical technicians, and EMS instructors, in addition to paramedics, for violations of professional conduct standards effective October 1, 2013.

Requires emergency medical technicians to complete recertification every three years with thirty hours of approved refresher training, and establishes statewide standardization of certification for emergency medical technicians, EMS instructors, and emergency medical responders.

Establishes the Connecticut Emergency Medical Services Primary Service Area Task Force to review and make recommendations on processes for designating primary service areas, standardizing contracts, designating providers, and handling municipal petitions for service area changes.

Task force membership consists of 14 members appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health, legislative leaders, hospital associations, and EMS provider representatives from different municipalities, with the Commissioner serving as cochairperson.

Task force must submit a report by February 15, 2014 to the joint standing committee on public health with recommendations on primary service area designation processes, contract standards, service expansion mechanisms, adverse event reporting, and municipal education outreach.