23-27.2-06. Distressed ambulance service - Procedure - Plan
1. The department shall assign a coordinator to the distressed ambulance service within
seven days of the date of the notice of declaration. The coordinator may be an
employee of the department or a contractor. The coordinator shall develop, implement,
and monitor an emergency medical services plan.
2. The emergency medical services plan must:
a. Include a detailed planning and implementation timeline to deliver sustainable
and reliable emergency medical response and transport services to a patient
within the assigned service area;
b. Evaluate the impact on the assigned and adjacent service areas; and
c. Consider input from stakeholders, including:
(1) The distressed ambulance service;
(2) The political subdivision that has jurisdiction over the distressed ambulance
service;
(3) The county and city governments within the service area;
(4) Licensed medical facilities;
(5) Adjacent ambulance services;
(6) Other emergency medical services within the service area; and
(7) Other interested parties.
3. The coordinator shall present a proposed plan at a public meeting held in the
distressed ambulance service's assigned service area within thirty days of the date of
assignment. The coordinator shall allow stakeholders and the public the opportunity to
provide input relating to the plan.
4. The coordinator shall present a final plan at a second public meeting held in the
distressed ambulance service's assigned service area within thirty days of the date of
the first public meeting.
a. The distressed ambulance service shall approve or reject the department's final
plan at the second public meeting.
(1) If the distressed ambulance service approves the plan, the distressed
ambulance service shall comply with all aspects of the plan.
(2) If the distressed ambulance service rejects the plan, the service leader of
record shall present an amended plan to the department within fourteen
days after the date of the second public meeting.
b. The department shall approve or reject the amended plan within seven days of
receipt.
5. If the department and distressed ambulance service are unable to agree on a plan, or
if the distressed ambulance service fails to comply with any aspect of an approved
plan, the department may take action as necessary to protect the health, safety, and
welfare of the public, in accordance with section 23-27.2-02.
6. The department shall provide notice of a public meeting conducted under this section.
The notice must be:
a. Published in a newspaper of general circulation within the service area between
fourteen and seven days before the meeting; and
b. Delivered by first-class mail to the county auditor of each county in the service
area at least seven days before the meeting.
7. The department may request the distressed ambulance service reimburse the
department for direct costs incurred in the administration of this section and for any
reasonable measures taken to ensure reliable ambulance response within the
distressed ambulance service's assigned service area. The distressed ambulance
service shall reimburse the department within thirty days after receipt of the request.
