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House passes bill to let ambulances temporarily operate at limited advanced-care level
Summary
The Michigan House on March 11 passed House Bill 5249, which allows Basic Life Support (BLS)-licensed ambulances to operate temporarily at a limited Advanced Life Support level when properly crewed and approved by medical control; the roll-call vote was 103–1 and immediate effect was ordered.
The Michigan House voted to pass House Bill 5249 on March 11, a measure that would allow an ambulance service holding a Basic Life Support transporting license to apply for a temporary "adaptive care" designation permitting limited advanced life support when the right crew and equipment are on board.
Representative Preston, speaking in favor of the bill, said the change was driven by rural emergency medical needs and the inflexibility of current licensing. "Right now, Michigan law is stuck in an archaic way of thinking. If your ambulance is licensed basic life support, that's all it can ever be," Preston said, arguing the bill "creates an optional adaptive care license" so crews with paramedics and approved protocols can provide higher-level care where transport times are long.
Preston described the bill as aimed at volunteer and small EMS services: "This bill is for the ambulance services that are focused on providing quality care for the communities where the hospitals lie far away. This bill is about patients patient outcomes." He said the measure would not force upgrades or increase state costs but would authorize temporary use of advanced skills when medical control approved protocols are in place.
Supporters said the change responds to long rural transport times and would allow clinicians to use their training rather than be constrained by paperwork. The clerk announced the roll-call on final passage: 103 I votes and 1 N vote, meeting the majority threshold. The majority floor leader moved and the House ordered immediate effect.
The bill now moves to whatever administrative steps are required for implementation; the House record shows final passage with immediate effect ordered on March 11.
