32 M.R.S. § 86

(CONTAINS TEXT WITH VARYING EFFECTIVE DATES)

1. Ambulance services and nontransporting medical services to be licensed. Every ambulance service and nontransporting emergency medical service must be licensed, operate in accordance with the rules adopted and protocols developed for services under this chapter and carry the equipment called for in those rules. A. (TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 12/31/26) (TEXT REPEALED 12/31/26) The board shall adopt rules and protocols to evaluate the need for any new ambulance service in this State before granting a license under this subsection, including rules that provide an appeal process for any decision made by the board. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A . This paragraph is repealed December 31, 2026. [PL 2021, c. 241, §4 (NEW).] [PL 2021, c. 241, §4 (AMD).]

2. Care of patient. Whenever an ambulance transports a patient from the scene of an emergency, the patient must be cared for by a physician, by a flight nurse or by a person licensed under this chapter to provide emergency medical care. Whenever an ambulance transports a patient from a hospital or other health care facility to another place, the patient must be cared for by: A. The physician in charge of the patient's case, by a person licensed under this chapter or by a professional nurse; or [PL 1981, c. 661, §2 (NEW).] B. A licensed practical nurse, or other person appropriately trained to care for the patient, acting under orders from the patient's physician. [PL 1981, c. 661, §2 (NEW).] The person specified in this subsection as caring for the patient shall accompany the patient in the portion of the ambulance where the patient rides. [PL 1999, c. 182, §10 (AMD).]

2-A. Treatment. When an ambulance service or nontransporting emergency medical service is present at an accident or other situation in which a person or persons require emergency medical treatment, the medical treatment of the patients must be carried out in accordance with any rules adopted under this chapter, any protocols as defined in section 83, subsection 19 and any orders given by online medical control; except that: A. When a patient is already under the supervision of a personal physician or physician associate or a nurse practitioner supervised by the physician and the physician, physician associate or nurse practitioner assumes the care of the patient, then for as long as the physician, physician associate or nurse practitioner remains with the patient, the patient must be cared for as the physician, physician associate or nurse practitioner directs. The emergency medical services persons shall assist to the extent that their licenses and protocol allow; and [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §9 (AMD); PL 2025, c. 316, §3 (REV).] B. A patient is not required to accept treatment to which the patient does not consent. [PL 1999, c. 182, §11 (AMD).] [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §9 (AMD); PL 2025, c. 316, §3 (REV).]

3. Air transportation. Any patient transported by air must be flown on a service licensed under Federal Aviation Regulations, Part 135 or Part 121. In such an instance, the flight is deemed to be an air ambulance and the patient must be cared for as provided in subsection 2 . [PL 1991, c. 588, §14 (AMD).]

4. Naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid overdose-reversing medication. An ambulance service or a nontransporting emergency medical service licensed under this chapter may dispense naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid overdose-reversing medication in accordance with Title 22, section 2353, subsection 2‑A and the rules adopted and protocols developed for ambulance services and nontransporting emergency medical services under this chapter. An opioid overdose-reversing medication referenced in this subsection must be approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. [PL 2023, c. 161, §6 (AMD).]