DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 164 Engrossed 2020 Regular Session Davis
Abstract: Provides relative to emergency medical services in certain life-threatening situations,
protocols for rendering such services, and for the role of EMS medical directors.
Present law provides that in a case of a life-threatening situation as determined by a licensed
emergency medical services (EMS) practitioner, when voice contact with a physician is delayed or
not possible, or when the delay in treatment could endanger the life of the patient, the practitioner
may render services in accordance with a protocol established by the EMS committee or executive
committee of the parish or component medical society, or its designee, until voice communication
can be established at the earliest possible time.
Proposed law retains present law and adds thereto an authorization for licensed EMS practitioners
to render services in such situations in accordance with a protocol approved by the EMS medical
director who is a board-certified or board-eligible emergency medicine physician until voice
communication can be established at the earliest possible time.
Proposed law amends present law relative to EMS practitioner students administering automated
cardiac defibrillation under certain conditions to provide that protocols for this activity shall be
approved by the local parish medical society or its designee or the EMS medical director.
Proposed law amends present law to stipulate that if a parish has no organized or functional local
medical society, the requirements of present law and proposed law for approval of an EMS protocol
may be satisfied by the EMS medical director.
Proposed law amends present law relative to licensure of ambulance providers to provide that
applicants for such licensure shall include with their applications all medical protocols signed by the
EMS medical director or by the parish or component medical society.
Proposed law amends present law relative to licensure of air ambulance services to provide that
applicants for such licensure shall submit to and successfully complete an inspection that includes
a review of medical protocols signed by the EMS medical director of the air ambulance service or
the president or designee of the parish or component medical society in the service's parish of
domicile.
(Amends R.S. 40:1133.14(B)(intro. para.) and (2), (C), and (E), 1135.3(C)(1)(c), and
1135.8(C)(4)(f)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to the
original bill:
1. Amend present law relative to EMS practitioner students administering automated
cardiac defibrillation under certain conditions to provide that protocols for this activity
shall be approved by the local parish medical society or its designee or the EMS medical
director.
2. Revise present law and proposed law to stipulate that if a parish has no organized or
functional local medical society, the requirements of present law and proposed law for
approval of an EMS protocol may be satisfied by the EMS medical director.
3. Amend present law relative to licensure of ambulance providers to provide that
applicants for such licensure shall include with their applications all medical protocols
signed by the EMS medical director or by the parish or component medical society.
4. Amend present law relative to licensure of air ambulance services to provide that
applicants for such licensure shall submit to and successfully complete an inspection that
includes a review of medical protocols signed by the EMS medical director of the air
ambulance service or the president or designee of the parish or component medical
society in the service's parish of domicile.
5. Make technical changes.