Healthcare (Public Safety)

HB 5249 creates a new "adaptive care license" for ambulance operations currently licensed only for basic life support (BLS). It allows these operations to gradually upgrade to provide limited advanced life support (ALS) or advanced life support (ALS) services, provided they demonstrate staffing and equipment readiness for higher care levels by January 1, 2025. The license requires annual documentation of progress toward this upgrade, including training and equipment plans, and must be renewed annually alongside the operation's regular license. This applies specifically to ambulance services owned or contracted by local governments that previously provided only BLS for emergency response.

SB 706 modifies Michigan's emergency medical services (EMS) licensing rules to expand fee waivers for volunteer personnel. It allows EMS workers certified as volunteers by their life support agency (which doesn't charge for services) to avoid paying renewal or late fees, provided they maintain their volunteer status. If a volunteer later becomes employed as a licensee, they must then pay the standard fees. The bill also removes the requirement for EMS personnel to maintain national registry status to renew their licenses. This directly affects volunteer EMS providers in Michigan who work for non-charging agencies.