LEMSA Transparency Act Clears Senate Committee on Health

(Sacramento, CA) – Yesterday, Assembly Bill (AB) 379, authored by Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (D – Pomona), advanced from the Senate Committee on Health with unanimous support. This legislation would require the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) and Local Emergency Medical Services Agencies (LEMSAs) to engage in several planning and reporting actions to increase transparency.

“I am proud to author legislation that will ensure proper and transparent planning by LEMSAs and ensure they are properly supported by EMSA, helping to improve emergency response time across California. This bill incorporates much of the feedback I have received through collaborating with stakeholders to ensure consistency across planning and a timely approval process,” stated Assemblymember Rodriguez.

Current law states that LEMSAs may establish policies and procedures for calculating and reporting APOT but does not require such. As ambulance patient offload times (APOT) play a pivotal role in how quickly EMS workers can respond to an emergency call, requiring LEMSAs to establish these metrics through this bill will improve emergency planning.

Specifically, AB 379 would require both EMSA and LEMSAs to post approved annual plans on their websites within 30 days of approval and also require EMSA to respond to the LEMSAs’ submitted annual plans within 90 days. EMSA would also be required to develop a standardized list of exemptions given to providers for failing to meet 9-1-1 response times. Finally, LEMSAs would be required to submit their budget and a list of exemptions within their annual plans.

LEMSAs are responsible for planning, coordinating, and improving local emergency and medical response systems. LEMSAs mainly work to organize prehospital services. Requiring further transparency through AB 379 will improve all planning by ensuring consistency of the data collected on wall times.

“As a career first responder, I understand how unduly long wall times can negatively impact our EMS system as a whole. Consistent reporting of ambulance patient offload times, coupled with further transparency, will enable our EMS workers to get back out in the field, ensuring all Californians receive a timely emergency response when they are in need,” added Assemblymember Rodriguez.

Assemblymember Rodriguez (Twitter) represents the 53rd Assembly District which includes the cities of Chino, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona, and Upland. He is Chair of the Assembly Committee on Emergency Management.