Bill
H 2473
Strengthens Massachusetts EMS oversight with annual regional plans, clearer council-state communication, a complaints process, funding study, and a peer licensure panel.
Status and context
- Bill number: H.2473
- Title: An Act relative to emergency medical services oversight
- Introduced: February 27, 2025
- Current status: Reported favorably by committee and referred to the Health Care Financing Committee
- Related actions: Senate concurred; hearings held; additional actions recorded in 2025 legislative actions
- Legislative context: House Docket No. 1773; Replaces existing HD 1773 in the same session
Purpose and objectives
- The bill aims to strengthen oversight of emergency medical services (EMS) in Massachusetts through enhanced planning, clearer communication between regional EMS councils and the state department, formal complaint procedures, potential permanent funding considerations, and the creation of a peer licensure advisory body.
- Primary beneficiaries include regional EMS councils, EMS providers, trauma care systems, and the public seeking EMS services.
Key provisions and changes
1) Enhanced communication between regional councils and the department
- Section 1 adds a requirement for guidelines for clear and streamlined communication between regional EMS councils and the Department of Public Health’s EMS leadership.
- Section 2 expands the description of input from stakeholders to include appropriate communications to them.
2) Annual regional EMS plans
- Section 3 adds new subsection (d) requiring each regional EMS council to prepare and annually file with the Department and the EMS Board a Regional EMS Services and Support Plan by May 30.
- Plans must outline how the council will meet and advance its statutory responsibilities (as described in §4(c)) and must be consistent with the statewide EMS plan.
- Plans must include a trauma plan with minimum elements such as trauma point-of-entry guidelines and scene triage criteria.
- The department may amend regional council contracts to reflect the submitted plans, subject to appropriation and guidelines in §5.
3) Integration of regional plans into broader oversight
- Section 4 requires the regional EMS plan to be incorporated into annual departmental regions’ reporting, ensuring alignment with regional planning efforts.
4) Complaints process and public transparency
- Section 5 replaces prior section 14 with new procedures for handling complaints about persons certified or licensed under the EMS framework.
- The department must publish procedures on its website, investigate complaints when warranted, refer to other agencies when appropriate, and notify the complainant of actions or findings.
5) Funding study and permanent funding recommendations
- Section 6 directs a study, in consultation with regional councils, to identify permanent funding sources for the Office of Emergency Medical Services, regional councils, and central medical emergency direction centers.
- A report with findings and recommendations is due to key legislative offices and Ways and Means by December 1, 2025.
6) EMS Peer Licensure Advisory Committee
- Section 7 creates Section 26 (new) establishing an Emergency Medical Services Peer Licensure Advisory Committee.
- Composition: the EMS commissioner or designee, the EMS director or designee, and six voting members from key EMS stakeholder groups (firefighters, volunteer firefighter associations, fire chiefs, ambulance providers, hospital-based paramedic services, and EMT/Paramedic associations).
- Duties: advise the department on the complaint resolution process and disciplinary actions.
- Terms: each of the six appointees serves 3-year terms, with a maximum of three terms; meetings at least twice annually; appointments are unpaid.
Impacted parties
- Regional EMS Councils statewide
- Department of Public Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services
- EMS Board
- EMS providers, firefighters’ organizations, paramedic services, hospitals, and related associations
- General public benefiting from improved oversight, trauma planning, and transparent complaints processes
Timeline and next steps
- Hearing and committee actions scheduled in 2025; final action subject to House and Senate passage.
- May 30 annually: filing deadline for regional EMS plans.
- December 1, 2025: funding study report deadline.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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