An Act To Authorize Regional Medical Control Committees To Have Access to Maine Emergency Medical Services Data for Purposes of Quality Improvement

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  critical and lifesaving emergency medical services are provided to patients on a daily basis in both rural and urban areas; and

Whereas,  circumstances arise in which the provision of emergency medical services requires review for the purposes of quality improvement so that services may be delivered in a safe and efficient manner that produces maximum benefit to the health of the patient; and

Whereas,  delay in reviews increases the risk of service delivery that may be less safe or less efficient or does not produce maximum benefit to the health of the patient; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §89, sub-§2, ¶A,  as amended by PL 1991, c. 588, §18, is further amended to read:

Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §91-B, sub-§2, ¶E,  as amended by PL 2015, c. 82, §8, is further amended to read:

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill, which is emergency legislation, authorizes a regional medical control committee that has been approved by the Department of Public Safety, Emergency Medical Services' Board to carry out a plan of quality improvement to have access to data collected by Maine Emergency Medical Services that allows identification of persons receiving emergency medical treatment for the purpose of quality improvement.