Peer Assistance Emergency Medical Service Provider

Emergency medical service providers - peer health assistance program - authorized providers - administering entity - appropriation. The act creates a peer health assistance program (program) for emergency medical service providers who do not have access to a peer health assistance program. The program is funded through fees collected from each applicant upon initial or renewal of a certification as an emergency medical service provider. The department of public health and environment (department) is required to select one or more peer health assistance programs as designated providers. To be selected as a provider, the program must:

• Provide for the education of emergency medical service providers with respect to the recognition and prevention of physical, emotional, and psychological problems and provide for intervention when necessary or under circumstances that may be established by rules promulgated by the department;
• Offer assistance to an emergency medical service provider in identifying physical, emotional, or psychological problems;
• Evaluate the extent of physical, emotional, or psychological problems and refer the emergency medical service provider for appropriate treatment;
• Monitor the status of an emergency medical service provider who has been referred for treatment;
• Provide counseling and support for the emergency medical service provider and for the family of any emergency medical service provider referred for treatment;
• Agree to receive referrals from the department; and
• Agree to make services available to all certified emergency medical service providers.

The department is authorized to select a nonprofit private foundation that is dedicated to support medical charitable purposes to administer the program.

$57,242 is appropriated to the department to implement the act.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)