D. An appeal pursuant to subsection A of this section or a public hearing held pursuant to subsection C of this section shall meet the following requirements:

1. 1. The hearing shall be held pursuant to title 41, chapter 6, article 10, except as specifically provided in this section.
2. 2. The director shall mail notice of the hearing to every ambulance service in the affected region and every interested party as specified in subsection B of this section not later than fifteen days before the hearing.
3. 3. The director may mail notice to other persons who the director determines are interested in the hearing.
4. 4. In a hearing or rehearing conducted pursuant to this article, an ambulance service may be represented by a corporate officer, an employee or a designee who has been specifically authorized by the ambulance service to represent it.
5. 5. A certificate of necessity appeal hearing may not last more than five consecutive business days unless the administrative law judge determines, in writing, on the final day of the hearing that there is an extraordinary need for additional hearing days. The administrative law judge in that case may add up to five additional consecutive business days for the hearing. The additional hearing days shall be calendared within thirty days after the end of the initial hearing.
6. 6. The administrative law judge of the office of administrative hearings shall issue a written decision within twenty days after the hearing is concluded. The written decision shall contain a concise explanation of the reasons supporting the decision, including the findings of fact and conclusions of law. The administrative law judge shall serve a copy of the decision on the department and all parties to the action. On request of the department, the office of administrative hearings shall also transmit to the department the record of the hearing as described in section 12-904. A copy of the administrative law judge's decision is deemed sent on personal delivery of the decision or five days after the decision is mailed to the director.
7. 7. Within thirty days after the date the office of administrative hearings sends a copy of the administrative law judge's decision to the department, the director shall review the decision and accept, reject or modify the decision. If the director rejects or modifies the decision, the director must file with the office of administrative hearings and serve on all parties a copy of the administrative law judge's decision with the director's rejection or modification and a written justification setting forth the reasons for the rejection or modification of each finding of fact or conclusion of law. If there is a rejection or modification of a conclusion of law, the written justification shall be sent to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives.
8. 8. If the director does not accept, reject or modify the administrative law judge's decision within thirty days after the date the office of administrative hearings sends a copy of the administrative law judge's decision to the director, as evidenced by receipt of such action by the office of administrative hearings on or before the thirtieth day, the office of administrative hearings shall certify the administrative law judge's decision as the final administrative decision.
9. 9. The decision entered as specifically provided by this subsection is the final administrative decision.

E. The director may waive the hearing required under subsection C of this section if notification, including a general description of the proposed action of the department and the time and manner for any interested person to request a hearing, is given and all of the following apply:

1. 1. Notification of the proposed action has been sent to every ambulance service in the affected region not later than fifteen days before the action.
2. 2. The director has notified other persons who the director determines are interested in the proposed action not later than fifteen days before the action.
3. 3. The director has published notice of the proposed action in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected region at least once each week for two consecutive weeks before the action is taken.
4. 4. The director has received no requests within the fifteen-day notification period for a hearing to be held on the proposed action.

G. The director shall not hold a hearing if a person requests a hearing regarding a rate increase that does not exceed the amount computed as follows:

1. 1. Determine the percentage growth in the transportation consumer price index of the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, from the end of the second preceding calendar year to the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year for which the rate increase is requested.
2. 2. Determine the percentage growth in the medical care consumer price index of the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, from the end of the second preceding calendar year to the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year for which the rate increase is requested.
3. 3. Add the amount determined in paragraph 1 of this subsection to the amount determined in paragraph 2 of this subsection and divide the sum by two.

H. A rate increase authorized pursuant to subsection G of this section is deemed to be fixed by the department at the requested level. Notwithstanding subsection E of this section, the department shall hold a hearing pursuant to section 36-2232, subsection E for any proposed uniform rate or charge that exceeds the annual rate increase prescribed in subsection G of this section. The department shall require the applicants to submit the following information signed by the designated financial officer and the chief executive of the ambulance service who has fiduciary responsibility for providing accurate financial information:

1. 1. A financial statement for the previous twenty-four months relating to the certificated areas.
2. 2. Any additional information the department requires to analyze the request.

M. A service contract between an ambulance service and a political subdivision of this state, including local fire districts, shall be filed with and approved by the department in accordance with the following requirements:

1. 1. On receipt of the proposed contract, the department has fifteen days to review the contract and notify the ambulance service of any additional information the department requires, recommended corrections or any provision that does or may violate this article.
2. 2. The ambulance service has fifteen days to provide the department with the information requested or to submit a revised or amended contract if required under paragraph 1 of this subsection.
3. 3. The contract becomes effective fifteen days after the ambulance service complies with the department's request unless the department determines that any rate or charge or other provisions specified in the contract will cause any fixed rate or charge to the general public rate to be adversely affected or the contract would be in violation of the ambulance service's certificate of necessity.
4. 4. If the department disallows a proposed contract pursuant to this subsection, the ambulance service has a right to a hearing for review of the proposed contract.
5. 5. The rates and charges contained in the contract are the rates and charges fixed by the director in a decision or order for the ambulance service and conform to the ambulance service's current or subsequent general public rates and charges.
6. 6. The area of response is within the ambulance service's certificated area.

R. For the purposes of this section, "hearing day":

1. 1. Means any portion of a business day that is used for any hearing-related activity, including testimony, argument or presentation of evidence.
2. 2. Does not include prehearing conferences or other administrative matters that occur before the start of the hearing.