1. (1) The Emergency Medical Services Program is established within the Oregon Health Authority for the purpose of administering a comprehensive statewide emergency medical services system developed by the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board and focused on emergency medical services and time-sensitive emergencies. The system includes:

   1. (a) The development of state and regional standards of emergency medical care;
   2. (b) The development of state, regional and interstate protocols for patient transfers using emergency medical services;
   3. (c) The training and licensing of emergency medical services providers;
   4. (d) The development and management of emergency medical services data systems;
   5. (e) The management and administration of state workforce, recruitment and retention programs related to emergency medical services;
   6. (f) The regulation and administration of state reimbursement systems for emergency medical services; and
   7. (g) Requirements for reporting out measurable performance and equity indicators of emergency medical services within this state.

2. (2) The program is administered by a director who:

   1. (a) Is responsible for conducting emergency medical services system oversight and implementing the recommendations of the advisory board.

   2. (b) Shall apply funds allocated to the program in the following order of priority:

      1. (A) Development of state and regional standards of care;
      2. (B) Strengthening the state’s emergency medical services workforce;
      3. (C) Development of statewide educational curriculum to teach the standards of care;
      4. (D) Implementation of quality improvement programs; and
      5. (E) Support for and enhancement of the state’s emergency medical services.
   3. (c) May adopt rules as necessary to carry out the director’s duties and responsibilities described in this subsection.

3. (3) The program shall have a State EMS Medical Director who is the chairperson of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board established under ORS 682.506 and who is responsible for:

   1. (a) Providing specialized medical oversight in the development and administration of the program;
   2. (b) Implementing emergency medical services quality improvement measures;
   3. (c) Undertaking research and providing public education regarding emergency medical services; and
   4. (d) Serving as a liaison with emergency medical services agencies, emergency medical services centers, hospitals, state and national emergency medical services professional organizations and state and federal partners.

4. (4) The authority shall:

   1. (a) Adopt rules to establish statewide emergency medical services objectives and standards; and
   2. (b) Publish a biennial report regarding the program’s activities.

5. (5)

   1. (a) The establishment of the program does not affect the contracting authority of counties and county ambulance service areas.
   2. (b) The objectives and standards established under subsection (4) of this section do not prohibit a local jurisdiction from implementing objectives and standards that are more rigorous than those established under subsection (4) of this section.

[2024 c.32 §2]