Source: http://eli.ctas.tennessee.edu/reference/ambulance-and-emergency-medical-services
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 11:39:09+00:00

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Tennessee county governments are authorized to provide emergency medical services (EMS). This authorization is granted by T.C.A. § 7-61-102: “The governing body of any county or city of the state of Tennessee may provide and maintain and do all things necessary to provide ambulance service as a public service.” While counties are authorized to provide EMS, they are not required to provide those services. Counties are authorized under T.C.A. § 5-16-101(b)(2) to operate emergency medical services and charge fees or rates for such services under the urban type public facilities law.
The Emergency Medical Services Act of 1983, T.C.A. § 68-140-301 et seq., establishes a state emergency medical services board to regulate agencies that provide ambulance and emergency medical services. Although counties are not required to provide ambulance services (T.C.A. § 68-140-318), they must comply with this act if they choose to provide them. T.C.A. § 68-140-316.
The regulation of third-party EMS services is needed to ensure that an acceptable level of emergency medical service is provided to the citizens of the county. These regulations may include a performance-based contract with penalty provisions for non-compliance, or a determination that it is in the best interest of the county to be the sole provider of ambulance services.
The Tennessee Court of Appeals found in Morristown Emergency and Rescue Squad, Inc. v. Volunteer Development Company, Inc. that ambulance service is a public service and that a lack of regulation and control over these services could injure the public. Additionally, under state law, the decision of a county commission not to recognize an additional ambulance service will not be reviewed by the courts unless a challenger can prove such fraud or abuse. Therefore, the legislature has clearly shown intent with respect to ambulance services to allow county governments to replace open competition with regulation or monopolistic power.
(a) No county may provide and maintain, license, franchise, or contract for ambulance service within the boundaries of a city or another county, and no city may provide and maintain, license, franchise, or contract for ambulance service outside its corporate boundaries, without the approval of the governing body of the area to be served.
(b)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(2) [special provisions for Davidson and Shelby counties], any two (2) or more counties and municipalities may enter into agreements with each other and with persons providing both emergency and nonemergency ambulance service for a county or counties on a county-wide basis, for joint or cooperative action to provide for ambulance service as authorized in this chapter.
Counties that have determined that that it is in their best interest to provide exclusive service of emergency and non-emergency ambulance service will need to enter into an interlocal agreement with the cities in the county to ensure that the county ambulance service is the sole provider.
In summary, counties are authorized but not required to provide an ambulance service. Counties may choose to provide the ambulance service exclusively or to regulate third party services; they may also contract for the provision of this service by private entities or other governmental agencies. The decision to provide the service exclusively will not be reviewed by the courts without evidence of fraud or abuse by the county. Counties are authorized to charge fees or rates for such services under the urban type public facilities law.

References: § 7
 § 5
 § 68
 § 68
 § 68
 v.