No. 30758 (Amendment): R426-6. Emergency Medical Services Competitive Grants Program Rules

DAR File No.: 30758
Filed: 11/27/2007, 06:19
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The Grants Subcommittee and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Committee proposed these changes to provide more flexibility in the awarding of competitive grants as funding levels change and to meet particular system-wide needs as they arise. One amendment is necessary to clarify that grants are available to entities that are not licensed or designated only if the funds will be used for training necessary to become licensed or designated. The high school training program provisions need to be removed from the rule because the funding of this program is not by competitive grant.

Summary of the rule or change:

The changes clarify who is eligible for competitive grant funds. The requirement for a 50% match for competitive funds is eliminated in favor of annual guidelines that match the available funding. The high school training program is deleted from the rule.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Section 26-8a-207

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The changes impose no additional duties on state government and do not relieve state government from any responsibilities. Therefore, there will be no cost to the state budget.

local governments:

There may be a minor aggregate cost to local governments because some nonprofit entities may obtain funding under the program for training prior to becoming licensed or designated EMS providers. The department anticipates that the impact will be minor and that the amount and frequency of the funding to nonprofit entities will be small.

small businesses and persons other than businesses:

There may be some benefit to nonprofit entities that are seeking to become licensed or designated EMS providers, but the amount and frequency are uncertain and are likely to be small.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs because the competitive grants are monies provided to EMS providers through the Criminal Fines and Forfeitures and given to providers. The rule imposes no additional application requirements.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

The added flexibility in the awarding of competitive grants as funding levels change and to meet particular system wide needs as they arise will benefit business. David N. Sundwall, MD, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Health
Health Systems Improvement, Emergency Medical Services
CANNON HEALTH BLDG
288 N 1460 W
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84116-3231

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Leslie Johnson at the above address, by phone at 801-538-6292, by FAX at 801-538-6808, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

01/14/2008

This rule may become effective on:

01/21/2008

Authorized by:

David N. Sundwall, Executive Director

RULE TEXT

R426. Health, Health Systems Improvement, Emergency Medical Services.

R426-6. Emergency Medical Services Competitive Grants Program Rules.

R426-6-3. Eligibility.

(1) Competitive grants are available for use specifically related to the provision of emergency medical services.

(2) Grantees must be in compliance with the EMS Systems Act and all EMS rules during the grant period.

(3) Only the following entities are eligible for competitive grant funds:

(a) licensed EMS agencies;

(b) designated EMS agencies; and

(c) political subdivisions of Utah state or local governments that are seeking grants to provide for initial training to become licensed or designated EMS agencies; and

(d) non-profit entities that are seeking grants to provide for initial training to become licensed or designated EMS agencies.

(4) An applicant that is six months or more in arrears in payments owed to the Department is ineligible for competitive grant consideration.

 

R426-6-5. Competitive Grant Process.

(1) The Grant Program Guidelines, outlining the review schedule, funding amounts, eligible expenditures, and awards schedule shall be established annually by the EMS Committee.

(2) The department may accept only complete applications which are submitted by the deadlines established by the EMS Committee.

(3) It is the intent of the EMS Committee that there be local EMS council or committee review and prioritization of grant applications. Therefore, copies of grant applications shall be provided by grant applicants to their respective county EMS councils or committees and the multi-county EMS councils or committees, where organized, for a period of at least 30 days for review and prioritization before consideration by the State Grants subcommittee. State reviews may not be conducted for grant proposals which have not been first submitted to the county or the multi-county EMS councils or committees.

(4) Agencies that are licensed or designated, whose EMS service area includes multiple local EMS Committee jurisdictions will be reviewed separately by the State Grants Subcommittee.

(5) The Grants Subcommittee shall review the competitive grant applications and forward its recommendations to the EMS Committee. The EMS Committee shall review and comment on the Grants Subcommittee recommendations and forward to the Department.

(6) Grant recipients shall provide matching funds in the amount [of 50% of total approved expenditures or a greater amount as annually set forth in the Grant Guidelines]specified in the Grant Program Guidelines.

(7) The Grants Subcommittee may recommend reducing or waiving the matching fund requirements where appropriate in order to respond to special or pressing local or state EMS problems.

(8) The Grants Subcommittee shall make recommendations based upon the following criteria:

(a) the impact on patient care;

(b) a description of the size and significant impediments of the geographic service area;

(c) the population demographics of the service area;

(d) the urgency of the need;

(e) call volume;

(f) the per capita grant allocated to each agency, and its relative benefit on the agency to provide EMS service;

(g) local county prioritization;

(h) a description of the agency; and

(i) percent of responses to non-residents of the service area.

(9) Applications requesting grant award extensions past June 30, must be made to the department by May 30 of the grant year. Requests made after that time will not be accepted. Grants extensions may only be given for unforeseen circumstances.

(10) The Department may withhold payment of grant funds to a grantee that is six months or more in arrears in payments owed to the Department until the overdue payments are paid in full.

 

[R426-6-6. High School Training Program Grant.

(1) The department shall provide a grant by contract with a single non-profit entity for the purpose of teaching the "What To Do Until the Ambulance Arrives" program or a similar program to Utah high school students. Any change to the curriculum of the program must be approved by the Department and the Utah State Board of Education. These programs are limited to Utah high schools for Utah high school students.

(2) The contract will be effective from July 1 through June 30. Contract awards may not be extended or amended.

]

R426-6-[7]6. Interim or Emergency Grant Awards.

(1) The Grants Review Subcommittee may recommend interim or emergency grants if all the following are met:

(a) Grant funds are available;

(b) The applicant clearly demonstrates the need;

(c) the application was not rejected by the Grants Review Subcommittee during the current grant cycle; and

(d) Delay of funding to the next scheduled grant cycle would impair the agency's ability to provide EMS care.

(2) Applicants for interim or emergency grants shall:

(a) submit an interim/emergency grant application, following the same format as annual grant applications; and

(b) submit the interim/emergency grant application to the Department at least 30 days prior to the EMS Committee meeting at which the grant application will be reviewed.

(3) The Grants Review Subcommittee shall review the interim/emergency grant application and forward recommendations to the EMS Committee. The EMS Committee shall review and comment on the Grants Review Subcommittee recommendations and forward to the Department.

 

KEY: emergency medical services

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [January 17, 2001]2008

Notice of Continuation: October 31, 2007

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 26-8a