SB 1587 Summary

• Establishes the "Gary Forbis Rural Emergency Medical Service Survival Act" to support emergency medical services in rural and medically underserved areas of Oklahoma.

• Creates the Rural Emergency Medical Service Survival Program administered by the State Department of Health with minimum annual funding of $10,000,000 to stabilize regional EMS districts.

• Requires a minimum of an emergency medical technician and an emergency medical technician advanced or paramedic on every emergency/non-emergency response by January 1, 2020 (excludes volunteer providers).

• Establishes educational standards for paramedic and EMS advanced technician programs through state universities, community colleges, tribal entities, and career technology centers, with educators required to hold national certification and an associate degree by January 1, 2018.

• Modifies the Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund to allow use of funds for readiness costs and pre-hospital emergency medical services in addition to uncompensated trauma care reimbursement.