Chapter 256

256.01(1t) (1t) “Ambulance” means an emergency vehicle, including any motor vehicle, boat or aircraft, whether privately or publicly owned, which is designed, constructed or equipped to transport sick, disabled or injured individuals.

256.01(2) (2) “Ambulance service” means the business of transporting sick, disabled, or injured individuals by ambulance to or from facilities or institutions providing health services.

256.01(3) (3) “Ambulance service provider” means a person engaged primarily in the business of transporting sick, disabled, or injured individuals by ambulance to or from facilities or institutions providing health services.

256.01(4) (4) “Board” means the emergency medical services board.

256.01(4p) (4p) “Emergency medical responder” means a person who is certified by the department as an emergency medical responder under s. 256.15 (8) (a) or is exempt under s. 256.15 (2) (b) or (c) and who, as a condition of employment or as a member of an organization that provides emergency medical care before hospitalization, provides emergency medical care to a sick, disabled, or injured individual.

256.01(5) (5) “Emergency medical services practitioner” means an emergency medical technician, an advanced emergency medical technician, an emergency medical technician — intermediate, or a paramedic.

256.01(6) (6) “Emergency medical technician” means an individual who is licensed by the department to administer basic life support and to properly handle and transport sick, disabled, or injured individuals or is exempt under s. 256.15 (2) (b) or (c).

256.01(7) (7) “Emergency medical technician — intermediate” means an individual who is licensed by the department as an emergency medical technician — intermediate under s. 256.15 (5) or is exempt under s. 256.15 (2) (b) or (c).

256.01(10) (10) “Hospital” has the meaning given in s. 50.33 (2).

256.01(11) (11) “Medical director” means a physician who trains, medically coordinates, directs, supervises, establishes standard operating procedures for, and designates physicians for direction and supervision of, emergency medical services practitioners and who reviews the performance of emergency medical services practitioners and ambulance service providers.

256.01(12) (12) “Nonprofit corporation” means a nonstock corporation organized under ch. 181 that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (17).

256.01(13) (13) “Opioid antagonist” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (13v).

256.01(14) (14) “Paramedic” means an individual who is specially trained in emergency cardiac, trauma, and other lifesaving or emergency procedures in a training program or course of instruction prescribed by the department and who is examined and licensed as a paramedic under s. 256.15 (5) or is exempt under s. 256.15 (2) (b) or (c).

256.01 History History: 2007 a. 130 ss. 53, 54, 58 to 61, 67, 68, 120, 122, 132, 202; 2013 a. 166, 200; 2015 a. 26, 83, 113; 2017 a. 12, 66, 366.

256.04 256.04 Emergency medical services board. The emergency medical services board shall do all of the following:

256.04(1) (1) Appoint an advisory committee of physicians with expertise in the emergency medical services area to advise the department on the criteria for selection of the state medical director for emergency medical services and on the performance of the director and to advise the director on appropriate medical issues.

256.04(4) (4) Periodically review all emergency medical services statutes and rules for surface, water and air transportation and recommend to the department and the department of transportation changes in those statutes and rules to provide different personnel and equipment requirements, where appropriate, for emergency response, nonemergency response and interfacility transportation of patients.

256.04(5) (5) Seek involvement in its deliberations by appropriate personnel from the department, the technical college system board and the department of transportation.

256.04(6) (6) Seek involvement in its deliberations by ambulance service provider personnel, emergency medical services practitioners, emergency medical responders, persons who train emergency medical services personnel and other interested persons.

256.04(7) (7) Advise, make recommendations to, and consult with the department concerning the funding under s. 256.12 (4) and (5), including recommending a formula for allocating funds among ambulance service providers under s. 256.12 (5).

256.04(8) (8) Review the annual budget prepared by the department for the expenditures under s. 20.435 (1) (r).

256.04(9) (9) Prepare written information on cardiocerebral resuscitation and provide the information to persons who offer certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

256.04(10) (10) Prepare recommendations on training and approval qualifications for community paramedics and community emergency medical services practitioners.

256.04(11) (11) Serve as a repository and contact for information and guidance on rendering first aid to domestic animals. In developing any guidance under this subsection, the board shall consult with a licensed veterinarian who is trained in pre-hospitalization emergency care of domestic animals.

256.04 History History: 1993 a. 16 ss. 2578f, 2578g, 2578p; 1995 a. 225; 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 104; 2007 a. 130 ss. 156 to 159; Stats. 2007 s. 256.04; 2009 a. 28; 2009 a. 180 s. 125; 2017 a. 12, 66, 166; 2023 a. 19.

256.08 256.08 State emergency medical services activities.

256.08(1) (1) State emergency medical services plan.

256.08(1)(a) (a) By December 31, 1995, the department shall prepare a state emergency medical services plan. The plan shall include an identification of priorities for changes in the state emergency medical services system for the 2 years following preparation of the plan. In preparing the plan, the department shall review all statutes and rules that relate to emergency medical services and recommend in the plan any changes in those statutes and rules that the department considers appropriate. After initial preparation of the plan, the department shall keep the plan current and shall reorder priorities for changes in the state emergency medical services system, based on determinations of the board.

256.08(1)(b) (b) Biennially, prior to final adoption of the state emergency medical services plan, the department shall hold at least one public hearing on a draft of the plan.

256.08(1)(c) (c) The department shall provide a copy of the state emergency medical services plan biennially to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2).

256.08(2) (2) Qualifications of state supervisor. The board shall recommend to the department the qualifications of any individual who may be hired on or after April 23, 1994, to supervise the subunit of the department that is primarily responsible for regulation of emergency medical services.

256.08(3) (3) Departmental rules; consultation. The department shall consult with the board before promulgating a proposed rule that relates to funding of emergency medical services programs under s. 256.12 or to regulation of emergency medical services.

256.08(4) (4) Departmental duties. The department shall:

256.08(4)(a) (a) Serve as the lead state agency for emergency medical services.

256.08(4)(b) (b) Implement measures to achieve objectives that are set forth in the state emergency medical services plan under sub. (1).

256.08(4)(c) (c) Provide quality assurance in the emergency medical services system, including collecting and analyzing data relating to local and regional emergency medical services systems, ambulance service providers, emergency medical responders, and emergency medical services practitioners.

256.08(4)(d) (d) Provide technical assistance to ambulance service providers, emergency medical responders, and emergency medical services practitioners in developing plans, expanding services, and complying with applicable statutes and rules.

256.08(4)(e) (e) Set standards for all organizations that offer training to emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners on what topics should be included in initial training and continuing training.

256.08(4)(f) (f) Facilitate integration of ambulance service providers and hospitals in the same geographic area.

256.08(4)(g) (g) Review recommendations of the board. The department may promulgate any rule changes necessary to implement those recommendations and may pursue any statutory changes necessary to implement those recommendations.

256.08(4)(h) (h) Investigate complaints received regarding ambulance service providers, emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, and medical directors and take appropriate actions after first consulting with the board and the state medical director for emergency medical services.

256.08(4)(i) (i) Provide advice to the adjutant general of the department of military affairs on the emergency medical aspects of the state plan of emergency management under s. 323.13 (1) (b) and coordinate emergency activities with the department of military affairs.

256.08(4)(j) (j) Consult at least annually with the technical college system board and the department of transportation on issues that affect ambulance service providers, emergency medical responders, and emergency medical services practitioners.

256.08(4)(k) (k) Promulgate rules that set forth the authority and duties of medical directors and the state medical director for emergency medical services.

256.08 History History: 1993 a. 251, 491; 1995 a. 247; 2007 a. 130 ss. 117, 125 to 129; Stats. 2007 s. 256.08; 2009 a. 42; 2017 a. 12.

256.12 256.12 Emergency medical services programs.

256.12(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “public agency” has the meaning given in s. 256.15 (1) (n).

256.12(2) (2) Emergency medical services programs.

256.12(2)(a) (a) Any county, city, town, village, hospital, ambulance service provider, or combination thereof may, after submission of a plan approved by the department, conduct an emergency medical services program using emergency medical services practitioners for the delivery of emergency medical care to sick, disabled, or injured individuals at the scene of an emergency and during transport to a hospital, while in the hospital emergency department until responsibility for care is assumed by the regular hospital staff, and during transfer of a patient between health care facilities. An ambulance service provider may, after submission of a plan approved by the department, conduct an emergency medical services program using emergency medical services practitioners for the delivery of emergency medical care to sick, disabled, or injured individuals during transfer of the individuals between health care facilities. Nothing in this section prohibits an emergency medical services program from using community paramedics and community emergency medical services practitioners for services described in ss. 256.205 (6) and 256.21 (6) or from providing nonemergency services in accordance with s. 256.15 (6p). Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the operation of fire department, police department, for-profit ambulance service provider, or other emergency vehicles using the services of emergency medical services practitioners in conjunction with a program approved by the department. Hospitals that offer approved training courses for emergency medical services practitioners should, if feasible, serve as the base of operation for approved programs using emergency medical services practitioners.

256.12(2)(b) (b) The department shall review and, if the department determines that the plans are satisfactory, approve the plans submitted under par. (a). The department shall:

256.12(2)(b)1. 1. Provide administrative support and technical assistance to emergency medical services programs that use emergency medical services practitioners or ambulance service providers.

256.12(2)(b)2. 2. Coordinate the activities of agencies and organizations providing training for the delivery of emergency medical services.

256.12(2)(b)3. 3. Assist the development of training for emergency medical services practitioners.

256.12(2)(b)4. 4. Assess the emergency medical resources and services of the state and encourage the allocation of resources to areas of identified need.

256.12(2)(b)5. 5. Assist hospitals in planning for appropriate and efficient handling of the critically ill and injured.

256.12(2m) (2m) State medical director for emergency medical services program.

256.12(2m)(a) (a) The department shall contract with a physician to direct the state emergency medical services program. The department may expend from the funding under the federal preventive health services project grant program under 42 USC 2476 under the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (1) (mc), $25,000 in each fiscal year for this purpose.

256.12(2m)(b) (b) The physician under par. (a) shall be called the state medical director for the emergency medical services program, shall have at least 3 years of experience in the conduct and delivery of prehospital emergency medical services as a physician practicing emergency or prehospital medicine in a hospital or agency and shall have actively participated in and had major responsibility for the development, management, execution and coordination of programs, policies and procedures in the delivery of emergency medical services.

256.12(4) (4) Support and improvement of emergency services.

256.12(4)(a) (a) From the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (1) (r), the department shall annually distribute funds for ambulance service vehicles or vehicle equipment, emergency medical services supplies or equipment, nondurable or disposable medical supplies or equipment, medications, or emergency medical training for personnel to an emergency medical responder department or ambulance service provider that is a public agency, a volunteer fire department or a nonprofit corporation, under a funding formula consisting of an identical base amount for each emergency medical responder department or ambulance service provider plus a supplemental amount based on the population of the emergency medical responder department’s primary service area or the population of the ambulance service provider’s primary service or contract area, as established under s. 256.15 (5), as applicable.

256.12(4)(b) (b) If a public agency has contracted for ambulance service with an ambulance service provider that operates for profit, the department shall distribute funds under par. (a) to the public agency.

256.12(4)(c) (c) Funds distributed under par. (a) or (b) shall supplement existing, budgeted moneys of or provided to an ambulance service provider and may not be used to replace, decrease or release for alternative purposes the existing, budgeted moneys of or provided to the ambulance service provider. A grant recipient under this subsection cannot expend more than 15 percent of a grant awarded during an annual grant cycle on nondurable or disposable medical supplies or equipment and medications. In order to ensure compliance with this paragraph, the department shall require, as a condition of relicensure, a financial report of expenditures under this subsection from an ambulance service provider and may require a financial report of expenditures under this subsection from an emergency medical responder department or an owner or operator of an ambulance service or a public agency, volunteer fire department or a nonprofit corporation with which an ambulance service provider has contracted to provide ambulance services.

256.12(5) (5) Emergency medical services practitioner and emergency medical responder training and examination aid.

256.12(5)(a) (a) From the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (1) (r), the department shall annually distribute funds to emergency medical responder departments or ambulance service providers that are public agencies, volunteer fire departments, or nonprofit corporations to purchase the training required for licensure and renewal of licensure as an emergency medical technician under s. 256.15 (6) or for certification and renewal of certification as an emergency medical responder under s. 256.15 (8), and to pay for administration of the examination required for licensure or renewal of licensure as an emergency medical technician under s. 256.15 (6) (a) 3. and (b) 1. or certification or renewal of certification as an emergency medical responder under s. 256.15 (8).

256.12(5)(am) (am) If an emergency medical responder department or ambulance service provider does not use funds received under par. (a) within a calendar year, the emergency medical responder department or ambulance service provider may escrow those funds in the year in which the funds are distributed to the emergency medical responder department or ambulance service provider, except funds distributed for nondurable or disposable medical supplies or equipment or medications. In a subsequent year, an emergency medical responder department or ambulance service provider may use escrowed funds to purchase the training required for certification or renewal of certification as an emergency medical responder or licensure or renewal of licensure as an emergency medical services practitioner at any level or to pay for administration of the examination required for certification or renewal of certification as an emergency medical responder or for licensure or renewal of licensure as an emergency medical services practitioner at any level.

256.12(5)(b) (b) The department shall require that all of the following submit to the department a financial report on the expenditure of funds received under par. (a):

256.12(5)(b)1. 1. An emergency medical responder department.

256.12(5)(b)2. 2. As a condition of relicensure, an ambulance service provider.

256.12(6) (6) Unlicensed operation.

256.12(6)(a) (a) In this subsection, “person” has the meaning specified in s. 256.15 (1) (L).

256.12(6)(b) (b) Notwithstanding the existence or pursuit of any other remedy, the department may, in the manner provided by law, upon the advice of the attorney general, who shall represent the department in all proceedings, institute an action in the name of the state against any person to restrain or prevent the establishment, management or operation of any emergency medical services program that is not approved under sub. (2) (a) or that is in violation of this section or a rule promulgated under this section.

256.12(7) (7) Insurance. A physician who participates in an emergency medical services program under this section or as required under s. 256.15 shall purchase health care liability insurance in compliance with subch. III of ch. 655, except for those acts or omissions of a physician who, as a medical director, reviews the performance of emergency medical services practitioners or ambulance service providers, as specified under s. 146.37 (1g).

256.12(8) (8) Exception to treatment. This section and the rules promulgated under this section may not be construed to authorize the provision of services or treatment to any individual who objects for reasons of religion to the treatment or services, but may be construed to authorize the transportation of such an individual to a facility of the individual’s choice within the jurisdiction of the emergency medical service.

256.12 History History: 1989 a. 102 ss. 15 to 17, 23, 25, 26, 60; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1993 a. 16, 251, 399, 491; 1997 a. 27, 79; 2001 a. 16, 109; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 130 ss. 130, 131, 137 to 149; Stats. 2007 s. 256.12; 2009 a. 28; 2017 a. 12, 66, 96; 2023 a. 19.

256.13 256.13 Cardiocerebral resuscitation. Any person who offers certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation shall provide the written information on cardiocerebral resuscitation that is prepared by the emergency medical services board under s. 256.04 (9) to each individual to whom the person provides instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

256.13 History History: 2007 a. 104; 2009 a. 180 s. 124; Stats. 2009 s. 256.13.

256.15 256.15 Emergency medical services personnel; licensure; certification; training.

256.15(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

256.15(1)(ag) (ag) “Act of terrorism” means a felony under ch. 939 to 951 that is committed with intent to terrorize and is committed under any of the following circumstances:

256.15(1)(ag)1. 1. The person committing the felony causes bodily harm, great bodily harm, or death to another.

256.15(1)(ag)2. 2. The person committing the felony causes damage to the property of another and the total property damaged is reduced in value by $25,000 or more. For purposes of this subdivision, property is reduced in value by the amount that it would cost either to repair or replace it, whichever is less.

256.15(1)(ag)3. 3. The person committing the felony uses force or violence or the threat of force or violence.

256.15(1)(cr) (cr) “Automated external defibrillator” means a defibrillator device to which all of the following apply:

256.15(1)(cr)1. 1. It is approved for commercial distribution by the federal food and drug administration.

256.15(1)(cr)2. 2. It is capable of recognizing the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia and of determining without intervention by the user of the device whether defibrillation should be performed.

256.15(1)(cr)3. 3. After having determined that defibrillation should be performed, it is capable, either at the command of an operator or without intervention by an operator, of delivering an electrical shock to an individual.

256.15(1)(d) (d) “Basic life support” means emergency medical care that is rendered to a sick, disabled, or injured individual, based on signs, symptoms, or complaints, prior to the individual’s hospitalization or while transporting the individual between health care facilities and that is limited to use of the knowledge, skills, and techniques received from training required for licensure as an emergency medical technician, or for certification as an emergency medical responder.

256.15(1)(dm) (dm) “Defibrillation” means administering an electrical impulse to an individual’s heart in order to stop ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia.

256.15(1)(hr) (hr) “Governmental unit” means the United States; the state; any county, city, village, or town; or any political subdivision, department, division, board, or agency of the United States, the state, or any county, city, village, or town.