Establish paramedicine programs; require insurance coverage

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
S. B. No. 220

2025-2026

Senator Manchester

To
enact sections
3902.65
,
4765.362, and 5164.11 of the Revised Code
to
establish community paramedicine programs and to require insurance
coverage for services provided under those programs.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
sections
3902.65
,
4765.362, and 5164.11 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as
follows:

Sec.
3902.65.
As
used in this section, "emergency medical technician-basic,"
"emergency medical technician-intermediate," and "emergency
medical technician-paramedic" have the same meanings as in
section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

Notwithstanding
section 3901.71 of the Revised Code, a health benefit plan issued,
delivered, or renewed in this state on or after the effective date of
this section that directly or indirectly covers health care services
performed by an emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical
technician-intermediate, or emergency medical technician-paramedic
shall cover, to the same extent, health care services performed by an
emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical
technician-intermediate, or emergency medical technician-paramedic
under a community paramedicine program in accordance with section
4765.362 of the Revised Code.

Sec.
4765.362.
(A)
An emergency medical service organization may establish a community
paramedicine program in accordance with the requirements of this
section, to permit an emergency medical technician-basic, emergency
medical technician-intermediate, or emergency medical
technician-paramedic to provide nonemergency medical services to
members of the community.

(B)
A community paramedicine program established under this section shall
operate under the direction of the emergency medical service
organization's medical director or cooperating physician advisory
board. Both of the following apply regarding a community paramedicine
program:

(1)
The medical director or cooperating physician advisory board shall
establish all of the following:

(a)
Nonemergency medical services that may be provided by an EMT-basic,
EMT-intermediate, or paramedic under the community paramedicine
program, which may include:

(i)
Chronic disease management and prevention;

(ii)
Health evaluation and assessment;

(iii)
Home safety inspection and fall prevention;

(iv)
Health education;

(v)
Medication compliance;

(vi)
Referral to other community services;

(vii)
Enhanced access to other health care services;

(viii)
Management of patients following surgery;

(ix)
Care coordination.

(b)
A protocol to be followed when an EMT-basic, EMT-intermediate, or
paramedic provides nonemergency medical services under the community
paramedicine program;

(c)
Any training requirements that must be satisfied to provide
nonemergency medical services under the community paramedicine
program;

(d)
Any continuing education requirements that must be satisfied to
continue providing nonemergency medical services under the community
paramedicine program.

(2)
The medical director or cooperating physician advisory board may
establish either of the following:

(a)
Partnerships with licensed health care professionals, health care
facilities, and other nonprofit and for-profit health care entities;

(b)
Plans for identifying social determinants of health and providing
collaborative health services to at-risk residents living in the
community served by the community paramedicine program.

(C)
Nonemergency medical services provided through a community
paramedicine program in accordance with this section may be provided
through telehealth.

Sec.
5164.11.
(A)
As used in this section, "emergency medical service
organization," "emergency medical technician-basic,"
"emergency medical technician-intermediate," and "emergency
medical technician-paramedic" have the same meanings as in
section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

(B)
The medicaid program shall cover services provided under a community
paramedicine program established under section 4765.362 of the
Revised Code if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

(1)
The emergency medical service organization operating the community
paramedicine program holds a valid medicaid provider agreement;

(2)
The community paramedicine program provides services to medicaid
recipients;

(3)
The services provided by an emergency medical technician-basic,
emergency medical technician-intermediate, or emergency medical
technician-paramedic under the community paramedicine program are
provided in accordance with section 4765.362 of the Revised Code.