SB2170enr 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2170 Enrolled LRB094 13493 DRJ 50420 b

AN ACT concerning business.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Nursing Home Care Act is amended by adding Section 2-217 as follows:

(210 ILCS 45/2-217 new)

Sec. 2-217. Order for transportation of resident by ambulance. If a facility orders transportation of a resident of the facility by ambulance, the facility must maintain a written record that shows (i) the name of the person who placed the order for that transportation and (ii) the medical reason for that transportation. The facility must maintain the record for a period of at least 3 years after the date of the order for transportation by ambulance.

Section 10. The Hospital Licensing Act is amended by adding Section 6.22 as follows:

(210 ILCS 85/6.22 new)

Sec. 6.22. Arrangement for transportation of patient by ambulance.

(a) In this Section:

"Ambulance service provider" means a Vehicle Service Provider as defined in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act who provides non-emergency transportation services by ambulance.

"Patient" means a person who is transported by an ambulance service provider.

(b) If a hospital arranges for transportation of a patient of the hospital by ambulance, the hospital must provide the ambulance service provider, prior to transport, a Physician Certification Statement formatted and completed in compliance with federal regulations or an equivalent form developed by the hospital. The Physician Certification Statement or equivalent form is not required prior to transport if a delay in transport can be expected to negatively affect the patient outcome.

(c) If a hospital is unable to provide a Physician Certification Statement or equivalent form, then the hospital shall provide to the patient a written notice and a verbal explanation of the written notice, which notice must meet all of the following requirements:

(1) The following caption must appear at the beginning of the notice in at least 14-point type: Notice to Patient Regarding Non-Emergency Ambulance Services.

(2) The notice must contain each of the following statements in at least 14-point type:

(A) The purpose of this notice is to help you make an informed choice about whether you want to be transported by ambulance because your medical condition does not meet medical necessity for transportation by an ambulance.

(B) Your insurance may not cover the charges for ambulance transportation.

(C) You may be responsible for the cost of ambulance transportation.

(D) The estimated cost of ambulance transportation is $(amount).

(3) The notice must be signed by the patient or by the patient's authorized representative. A copy shall be given to the patient and the hospital shall retain a copy.

(d) The notice set forth in subsection (c) of this Section shall not be required if a delay in transport can be expected to negatively affect the patient outcome.

(e) If a patient is physically or mentally unable to sign the notice described in subsection (c) of this Section and no authorized representative of the patient is available to sign the notice on the patient's behalf, the hospital must be able to provide documentation of the patient's inability to sign the notice and the unavailability of an authorized representative. In any case described in this subsection (e), the hospital shall be considered to have met the requirements of subsection (c) of this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 31, 2007.