Section 682.NEW - [Newly enacted section not yet numbered](1) The Behavioral Health Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee is established in the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board. The committee shall consist of members determined by the board and the Oregon Health Authority and must include at least: (a) Two members who are physicians specializing in the treatment of time-sensitive behavioral health medical emergencies;(b) One member who is a physician who practices emergency medicine or emergency medical services medicine;(c) One member who is an emergency medical services provider licensed under ORS 682.216; and(d) One member who represents a patient equity organization or is an academic professional specializing in health equity.(2) The committee shall provide advice and recommendations to the board regarding time-sensitive behavioral health medical emergencies, including the following objectives: (a) The integration of behavioral health emergency medical services into the Emergency Medical Services Program.(b) The regionalization and improvement of care for time-sensitive behavioral health medical emergencies.(c) The designation, using nationally recognized classifications where possible, of emergency medical services centers for the provision of care for time-sensitive behavioral health medical emergencies. If no nationally recognized classifications exist, the committee shall undertake a public deliberation process to establish classifications and submit the established classifications to the board for approval. In establishing and approving classifications, the committee and the board shall prioritize patient care.(3) With the advice of the committee, the authority shall:(a) Employ or contract with professional, technical, research and clerical staff to implement this section.(b) Provide technical assistance to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee on the integration of emergency medical services for behavioral health patients into the Emergency Medical Services Program.(c) Provide advice and technical assistance to the Time-Sensitive Medical Emergencies Advisory Committee on the regionalization of emergency medical services for behavioral health patients.(d) Establish guidelines for: (A) The designation of specialized regional behavioral health critical care centers.(B) Referring behavioral health patients to appropriate emergency or critical care centers.(C) Necessary prehospital and other behavioral health emergency and critical care medical service equipment.(D) Developing a coordinated system to allow behavioral health patients to receive appropriate initial stabilization and treatment with the timely provision of, or referral to, the appropriate level of care, including critical care and behavioral health subspecialty care.(E) An interfacility transfer system for critically ill or injured behavioral health patients.(F) Continuing professional education programs for emergency medical services personnel, including training in the emergency care of behavioral health patients across different demographics.(G) A public education program concerning the emergency medical services for behavioral health patients, including information on emergency access telephone numbers.(H) The collection and analysis of statewide behavioral health emergency and critical care medical services data from emergency and critical care medical services facilities for the purpose of quality improvement by those facilities, subject to relevant confidentiality requirements.(I) The establishment of cooperative interstate relationships to facilitate the provision of appropriate care for behavioral health patients who must cross state borders to receive emergency and critical care services.(J) Coordination and cooperation between providers of emergency medical services for behavioral health patients and other public and private organizations interested or involved in emergency and critical care for behavioral health.(4) The members of the committee who are physicians must be physicians licensed under ORS chapter 677 who are in good standing.(5) The authority may adopt rules as necessary to carry out this section, including rules to adopt the nationally recognized classifications described in subsection (2) of this section.Added by 2024 Ch. 32,§ 9, eff. 6/6/2024, op. 1/1/2025.