SB115 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom ButlerSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Emergency Medical Services Personnel, community paramedicine program authorized, State Board of Health to adopt rules, Sec. 22-18-10 added; Sec. 22-18-1 am'd.

Summary

SB115 would authorize Alabama's State Board of Health to create a community paramedicine program that lets licensed paramedics provide limited non-emergency services to eligible patients under board rules.

What This Bill Does

The bill creates a new community paramedicine framework and defines what a community paramedic is and what services they may provide. It sets who is eligible to receive these services (post-discharge patients who declined or aren’t eligible for home health/hospice, or those identified by a physician for preventing readmission or for preventive care) and limits the services to things like coordination of services, chronic disease monitoring, health assessments, hospital discharge follow-up, lab work, medication reminders, and continuation of care under physician oversight. It requires paramedics to document the services they provide and to share notes with the treating physician, and it prohibits diagnosing or prescribing drugs. The Board would adopt rules to implement the program, including how long after discharge patients can receive services.

Who It Affects

• Licensed paramedics and EMS personnel, who could become community paramedics and provide the specified services after meeting training and licensing requirements.
• Patients eligible for the program, such as those recently discharged, those identified by physicians for preventing readmission, or those referred for preventive services.

Key Provisions

• Adds definitions for COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC and COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE PROGRAM in Section 22-18-1, clarifying roles and required qualifications for paramedics who would participate.
• Adds Section 22-18-10 authorizing the State Board of Health to establish and administer a community paramedicine program, specify eligible patients, and outline permitted services (e.g., care coordination, chronic disease monitoring, health assessment, discharge follow-up, lab work, medication adherence, and continued care under physician oversight).
• Requires documentation of services by community paramedics and sharing with the attending physician; prohibits diagnosis and prescribing drugs; authorizes Board to adopt implementing rules, including eligibility time frames after discharge.
• Effective date set as the first day of the third month after passage and Governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Emergency Medical Services