2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 25 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT (§§ 25-1-101 — 25-59-106) › HOSPITALS (§§ 25-3-100.5 — 25-3.5-1401) › Article 3.5 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND TRAUMA SERVICES (§§ 25-3.5-101 — 25-3.5-1401) › Part 3 - TRANSPORTATION SUBSYSTEM (§§ 25-3.5-301 — 25-3.5-318) › Section 25-3.5-307 - Licensure of fixed-wing and rotor-wing air ambulances - cash fund created - rules

(1)
(a)
Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (1), prior to beginning air ambulance operations in this state, an air ambulance service must be licensed by the department. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (d) of this subsection (1), compliance with rules promulgated by the board or successful completion of an accreditation process through an accrediting organization approved by the department as having standards equivalent to or exceeding the standards established in rules of the board is required for full licensure and renewal of such license by the department for an air ambulance service.
(b)
(I)
Upon a showing of exigent circumstances, as defined by the board, the department may authorize an unlicensed air ambulance service to provide a particular transport.
(II)
The department may recognize the license issued by another jurisdiction for an air ambulance service that makes a limited number of flights per calendar year into or out of Colorado, and the department shall impose an annual fee upon an air ambulance service whose license is so recognized. The department may rescind such recognition, without refunding or prorating the fee, if rescission is necessary to protect public health and safety.
(b.5)
The board shall allow the department to grant a waiver of a rule adopted by the board if the applicant for the waiver satisfactorily demonstrates:
(I)
(A)
The waiver will not adversely affect the health and safety of patients; and
(B)
In the particular situation, the requirement serves no beneficial public purpose; or
(II)
Circumstances indicate that the public benefit of waiving the requirement outweighs the public benefit to be gained by strictly adhering to the requirement.
(c)
In addition to its rule-making authority granted under section
25-3.5-307.5
, the board shall promulgate rules specifying minimum licensure requirements and standards for air ambulance services necessary to ensure public health and safety, including governing the issuance of initial and renewal licenses, conditional licenses, provisional licenses, and other necessary licenses; establishing reasonable fees for licensure and for on-site inspections, investigations, changes of ownership, and other activities related to licensure; defining exigent circumstances for purposes of the exception in subparagraph (I) of paragraph (b) of this subsection (1); and specifying the procedure and grounds for the suspension, revocation, or denial of a license. The rules must include the process used to investigate complaints against an air ambulance service and procedures for data collection and reporting to the department by an air ambulance service; except that complaints that are related to the requirements of an accrediting organization approved by the department in accordance with paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) may be referred to the organization for investigation if the department determines that referral is appropriate. The department shall consider the results of such investigations in making licensure decisions concerning air ambulance services.
(d)
The department may issue a provisional license to an applicant for an initial license to operate an air ambulance service if the applicant is temporarily unable to conform to all the minimum standards required under this article and rules of the board; except that a license shall not be issued to an applicant if the operation of the applicant's air ambulance service will adversely affect patient care or the health, safety, and welfare of the public. As a condition of obtaining a provisional license, the applicant must demonstrate to the department that the applicant is making its best efforts to achieve compliance with applicable standards. The department may issue the applicant a second provisional license for the same duration and shall charge the same fee as for the first provisional license, but the department shall not issue a third or subsequent provisional license to the applicant.
(2)
(a)
The board shall establish the amount of the licensure fee to reflect the direct and indirect costs incurred by the department in implementing such licensure. The department shall transmit all fees collected pursuant to this section to the state treasurer who shall credit the same to the fixed-wing and rotary-wing ambulances cash fund, which fund is hereby created in the state treasury.
(b)
Any interest derived from the deposit and investment of moneys in the fixed-wing and rotary-wing ambulances cash fund shall be credited to such fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered moneys remaining in such fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not revert or be transferred to the general fund or any other fund of the state. Moneys in such fund shall be subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly to the department for the costs incurred by the department in implementing this section.
Amended by 2016 Ch. 206,§ 3, eff. 6/1/2016.
L. 2002: Entire section added, p. 697, § 2, effective May 29. L. 2005: (1) amended, p. 1331, § 2, effective July 1. L. 2007: (1) amended, p. 380, § 1, effective April 2. L. 2016: (1) amended, (HB 16-1280), ch. 206, p. 737, § 3, effective June 1.