Bill Summaries: S381 (2015-2016 Session)

Tracking:
  • Summary date: Mar 24 2015 - View summary

    Appropriates $210,000 for 2015-16 to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of the Secretary, to implement a community paramedicine pilot project, with a focus on expanding the role of paramedics to allow for community‑based initiatives resulting in care that avoids nonemergency use of emergency rooms and 911 services and avoids unnecessary admissions into health care facilities.

    Requires the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services (NCOEMS) to set the requirements necessary to qualify as a community paramedic eligible to participate in the pilot program and requires DHHS to consult with the NCOEMS to define the objectives, set standards, and establish the required outcomes for the project.

    Requires DHHS to establish up to three pilot program sites to implement the pilot project. Allows each program site to be awarded up to $70,000 for 2015-16 and allows preference to be given to counties who already have an established community paramedic program.

    Requires DHHS to report to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division by June 1, 2016, on the progress of the project, including an evaluation plan based on the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Rural Health Policy's Community Paramedicine Evaluation Tool. Requires DHHS to submit a final report that includes specified items to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division by November 1, 2016.

    Effective July 1, 2015.