SCS/SB 1382 - This act modifies provisions relating to emergency medical services, including: (1) ambulance district boards of directors; (2) ambulance district audits; (3) community paramedics; (4) the State Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services; and (5) ambulance licenses. AMBULANCE DISTRICT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS (Section 190.053) This act modifies training requirements for members of an ambulance district board of directors. Under this act, board members shall complete three hours of continuing education for each term of office. Failure to do so shall result in immediate disqualification and the office shall be vacant until filled. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 1340 (2024). AMBULANCE DISTRICT AUDITS (Section 190.076) Under this act, each ambulance district shall arrange for an audit of the district's records and accounts every three years by a certified public accountant. The audit shall be made available to the public on the district's website or otherwise freely available by other electronic means. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 1340 (2024). COMMUNITY PARAMEDICS (Section 190.098) This act modifies provisions relating to certification of community paramedics and the provision of community paramedic services. Currently, community paramedics practice in accordance with protocols and supervisory standards of the ambulance service's medical director. Ambulance services that provide community paramedic services in another ambulance service area shall enter into a written contract to do so. This act repeals these provisions. Under this act, community paramedic services shall mean those services provided by an entity that employs licensed paramedics certified by the Department of Health and Senior Services as community paramedics for services that are provided in a nonemergent setting, consistent with the education and training of a community paramedic and the supervisory standard approved by the medical director, and documented in the entity's patient care plans or protocols. Any ambulance service that seeks to provide community paramedic services outside of its service area shall have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the ambulance service of that area if that ambulance service is already providing those services or shall notify the ambulance services of that area if that ambulance service is not providing community paramedic services. Emergency medical response agencies (EMRA) may provide community paramedic services in a ground ambulance service's service area. If the ground ambulance service is already providing those services or provides them after the EMRA offers them, then the EMRA and ground ambulance service shall enter into a MOU for the coordination of services. The Department shall promulgate rules and regulations for the purpose of certifying community paramedic services entities and the standards necessary to provide such services. Certified entities shall be eligible to provide community paramedic services for 5 years. This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/HB 2280 (2024) and substantially similar to a provision in HB 2627 (2024). STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (Section 190.101) This act modifies the State Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services by changing the number of council members from 16 to no more than 23 and specifying the members who shall serve on the Council. Currently, members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Under this act, the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, the regional EMS advisory committees, and the Time-Critical Diagnosis Advisory Committee shall appoint members. This provision is identical to SB 1277 (2024). AMBULANCE LICENSES (Sections 190.109, 190.112, and 190.166) The Department of Health and Seniors Services, as a part of regulating ground ambulance service licenses, shall promulgate rules regarding participation with regional emergency medical services advisory committees and ambulance service administrator qualifications. This act requires ambulance services to report to the Department individuals serving as ambulance service administrators. These administrators shall be required to complete training as described in the act. Finally, the Department may refuse to issue, deny renewal of, or suspend a license required for ground ambulance services or take other corrective actions if the license holder is determined to be financially insolvent, has inadequate personnel for the service provided, requires an inordinate amount of mutual aid from neighboring services, has been determined to be criminally liable for actions related to the license or service provided, has been determined to be ineligible for participation in Medicare or MO HealthNet, whose ambulance district administrator has failed to meet the required qualifications or training, or if three or more board members have failed to complete required training. If the Department makes a determination of insolvency or insufficiency of services, then the Department may require the license holder to submit and complete a corrective plan, as described in the act. The Department shall be required to provide notice of any determination of insolvency or insufficiency of services to other license holders operating in the license holder's vicinity, members of the General Assembly who represent that area, other governing officials, the appropriate regional emergency medical services advisory committee, and the State Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services. The Department shall immediately engage with other license holders in the area to determine how ground ambulance services may be provided to the affected area during the service disruption. Assisting license holders may be compensated for such assistance as described in the act. These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 1340 (2024). SARAH HASKINS