(a) “Community paramedicine program” means a program developed by a local EMS agency and approved by the Emergency Medical Services Authority to provide community paramedicine services consisting of one or more of the program specialties described in this section under the direction of medical protocols developed by the local EMS agency that are consistent with the minimum medical protocols established by the authority. Community paramedicine services may consist of the following program specialties:

(1) Providing directly observed therapy (DOT) to persons with tuberculosis in collaboration with a public health agency to ensure effective treatment of the tuberculosis and to prevent spread of the disease.

(2) Providing case management services to frequent emergency medical services users in collaboration with, and by providing referral to, existing appropriate community resources.

(3) Providing short-term, postdischarge followup for persons recently discharged from a hospital due to a serious health condition, including collaboration with, and by providing referral to, home health services when eligible.

(b) On or before January 1, 2025, the authority shall amend regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter to include sufficient state-level program oversight that would allow for local EMS agencies to develop community paramedicine programs, as defined in subdivision (a), when a local EMS agency includes a community paramedicine program in their local EMS agency EMS plan.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 270, Sec. 2. (AB 767) Effective January 1, 2024. Repealed as of January 1, 2031, pursuant to Section 1857.)