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Senate adopts amendment and passes nonemergency patient transport bill after safety fixes
Summary
Senators voted to adopt an amendment to House Bill 322 that gives EMS providers discretion to delay or decline nonemergency transports when patient or provider safety is at risk and requires hospitals to hold beds for delayed patients. The amended bill passed and was sent to the House for further consideration.
The Senate considered House Bill 322, a measure on nonemergency patient transportation introduced by Sen. Bramble. Sponsors said the bill addresses situations when nonemergency transport requests could endanger patients or providers and creates limited circumstances in which emergency medical service providers may decline or delay such transports.
Sen. Bramble offered amendment #5 to resolve floor concerns raised by Sen. Milner and Sen. Buxton; the sponsor said the amendment addresses Ogden City’s concerns and balances public-safety and operational needs. The amendment carried by voice vote. Under the amended language, EMS providers may decline or delay nonemergency requests when circumstances would endanger the patient or providers; a hospital must hold a bed for a patient whose transportation was delayed or declined under the law’s provisions.
After discussion and no further questions on the floor, Sen. Bramble moved final passage of the amended bill. The roll-call vote recorded the bill as passed and it was returned to the House for additional action.
