1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; modifying emergency medical transport provisions;amending 
1.3 	Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.604, subdivisions 1, 2; repealing Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2008, section 144.604, subdivision 3.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.604, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Transport requirement. Unless the Emergency Medical Services 
1.8 	Regulatory Board has approved a licensed ambulance service's deviation from the 
1.9 	guidelines under section 144E.101, subdivision 14, the ambulance service must transport 
1.10 	major trauma patients from the scene to the highest state-designated trauma hospital 
1.11 	within 30 minutes' transport time according to subdivision 2.

1.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2010.

1.13 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.604, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.14 		Subd. 2.Ground ambulance exceptions transportation. Notwithstanding 
1.15 	subdivision 1, ground ambulances must comply with the following:
1.16 	(1) patients with compromised airways must be transported immediately to the 
1.17 	nearest designated trauma hospital; and
1.18 	(2) level II trauma hospitals capable of providing definitive trauma care must not 
1.19 	be bypassed to reach a level I trauma hospital. Ground ambulances must immediately 
1.20 	transport patients with compromised airways to the nearest designated trauma hospital. If 
1.21 	no designated trauma hospital exists within 30 minutes transport time, the patient must be 
1.22 	transported to the closest hospital. In cases where a patient does not have a compromised 
1.23 	airway, the ground ambulance must transport major trauma patients:
2.1 	(1) to a level I or level II trauma hospital within thirty minutes transport time; 
2.2 	(2) if no level I or level II trauma hospital exists within 30 minutes transport time, 
2.3 	the patient must be transported to the closest designated trauma hospital within 30 minutes 
2.4 	transport time or to a more appropriate higher designated trauma hospital if predetermined 
2.5 	by the ambulance service medical director; or
2.6 	(3) if no designated trauma hospital exists within 30 minutes transport time, the 
2.7 	patient must be transported to the closest hospital.

2.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2010.

2.9 	Sec. 3.  REPEALER.
 2.10 	Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.604, subdivision 3, is repealed the day 
2.11 	following final enactment.