R426-10-200. Air Ambulance Service Application and Licensure

  (1) No person, either as owner, agent or otherwise, shall furnish, operate, conduct, maintain, advertise or otherwise be engaged in the provision of emergency medical care using an air ambulance unless currently licensed by the State of Utah Department of Health. The state retains the right to conduct air ambulance service investigations per state law.

  (2) The following shall be complied with to obtain a State of Utah air ambulance license:

  (a) A person from another state shall not provide emergency medical services aboard an air ambulance within the state unless that person complies with the requirements under this chapter. This requirement applies to any person that provides patient care within the State of Utah.

  (b) Applicants desiring to be licensed or to renew its license for an air ambulance service shall submit the applicable fees and application on Department-approved forms prior to being issued a license to operate.

  (c) Applicants shall submit a copy of air ambulance service license(s) concurrently issued and on file with other states.

  (d) Applicants shall provide information about individual aircraft that will be used while providing medical care licensed under this Chapter to the state for physical inspection of medical compliance.

  (e) Applicants shall provide results to the Department from the prior 10 years of any investigations, disciplinary actions, or exclusions with the potential to impact the quality of medical care provided to patients. Such investigations, disciplinary actions, or exclusions that shall be reported apply to all current and prior legal names of the entity and all other names used by the entity to provide health care services (see R426-10-600, Change of Ownership/Management) and any person or entity who had direct or indirect ownership of at least 50% interest in the air ambulance service within the prior 10-year period.

  (f) Applicants shall identify an air ambulance service medical director pursuant to requirements found in R426-5-2400. The medical director shall be responsible for medical direction and oversight regarding credentialing air medical providers, clinical practice, and all patient care issues. Personnel changes in medical director shall be reported to the Department within 30 days.

  (g) Applicants shall submit all required fees, when applicable.

  (h) When the name or ownership of the air ambulance service changes, an air ambulance service license application shall be submitted to the Department at least 30 days prior to the effective date of the change.

  (i) Air ambulance services shall provide emergency information about the service to the Department. This information shall be used by the Department to provide effective communications and resource management, in the event of a statewide or localized disaster or emergency situation. The information is included in the initial and renewal application for certification of air ambulance services.

  (j) Air ambulance permits and licenses are not transferable.

  (k) Duplicate air ambulance permits and licenses can be obtained by submitting a written request to the Department. The request shall include a letter signed by the licensee certifying that the original permit and license has been lost, destroyed or rendered unusable.

  (l) Each licensed air ambulance provider shall obtain a new air ambulance inspection and subsequent permit or certification from the Department prior to returning an air ambulance to service following a modification, change or any renovation that results in a change to the stretcher placement or seating in the air ambulance interior configuration to ensure the aircraft meets patient care requirements.

  (m) The licensed air ambulance service shall file an amended list of aircraft that are used to provide service within the state to the Department within 30 days after an air ambulance is added or removed permanently from service.

  (n) The licensure period for all licensed air ambulance services shall be for 4 years.

  (o) Licensure authorizes the air ambulance provider only to provide emergency medical care using an air ambulance, and does not constitute authority to provide air transportation. Such authority shall be obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration and United States Department of Transportation.

  (p) The following regulations shall not relieve the licensed air ambulance provider from compliance with other statutes, rules, or regulations in effect for medical personnel and emergency medical services, involving licensing and authorizations, insurance, prescribed and proscribed acts and penalties.