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PRINTER'S NO. 1863
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1403
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY FARRY, PENNYCUICK, BROWN, BARTOLOTTA AND PICOZZI,
JUNE 29, 2026
REFERRED TO INSTITUTIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION,
JUNE 29, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in emergency medical services system,
further providing for receiving facilities and providing for
transportation coverage; and abrogating a regulation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 8128 of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 8128. Receiving facilities.
(a) Purpose.--[A] As provided under this section, a
receiving facility is a facility to which an ambulance may
transport a patient who requires [prompt] medical [care]
assessment and treatment in addition to that provided by the
ambulance crew after the crew responds to an emergency.
[(b) Requirements.--A receiving facility shall include, but
need not be limited to, a fixed location having an organized
emergency department, including a physician trained to manage
cardiac, trauma, pediatric, medical, behavioral and all-hazards
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emergencies, who is present in the facility and available to the
emergency department 24 hours per day and seven days per week.
By regulation, the department may authorize other types of
facilities to serve as receiving facilities for purposes of
serving patients who have special medical needs.]
(b.1) Regulations and protocol.--The department by
regulation or protocol under section 8105(c) (relating to duties
of department) or 8109(c)(8) (relating to regional emergency
medical services councils) shall:
(1) Authorize the types of facilities to serve as
receiving facilities, including facilities to transport a
patient during a suspected behavioral health crisis or
substance use disorder issue.
(2) Provide a procedure for emergency medical responders
to contact a local co-responder program, mobile crisis team
or medical mobile crisis team for assistance in crisis
deescalation, assessment and referral prior to transport
during a suspected behavioral health or substance use
disorder patient contact.
(c) Patient transports.--Unless directed otherwise by a
medical command physician, the initial transport of a patient
following an ambulance response to a reported emergency shall be
to a receiving facility pursuant to a protocol under section
8105(c) [(relating to duties of department)] or 8109(c)(8)
[(relating to regional emergency medical services councils)] or
such other location as the department designated by protocol.
Section 2. Title 35 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 8143. Transportation coverage.
(a) Ambulance transportation.--Medical assistance program
coverage for ambulance transportation shall be limited to
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medically necessary treatment and, if necessary, transportation
of eligible recipients to the recipient's home, nearest
facility, nonhospital drug and alcohol detoxification or
rehabilitation facility or receiving facility under section 8128
(relating to receiving facilities).
(b) Emergency services.--If an EMS agency provides patient
treatment in response to an actual or reported emergency and, if
necessary, transports the patient to a receiving facility under
section 8128, an insurer, medical assistance managed care plan
or Children's Health Insurance Program managed care plan shall
pay the emergency services payment amount for the services
provided. Payment under this subsection shall be subject to
applicable copayments, coinsurances or deductibles.
(c) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Emergency services payment amount." The amount payable
under the medical assistance ambulance fee schedule for patient
treatment and, if necessary, patient transport provided by an
emergency medical services agency in response to an actual or
reported emergency.
"Medical assistance ambulance fee schedule." The ambulance
fees established and updated by the Department of Human Services
for the medical assistance program, including the ambulance fees
updated under Medical Assistance Bulletin 26-24-01, effective
January 1, 2024, and any subsequent update to the ambulance fees
made in accordance with State law.
Section 3. The provisions of 55 Pa. Code § 1245.11 (relating
to types of services covered) are abrogated.
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 180 days.
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