Amendment to HB 178 could change scope of practice for EMTs 

By JOHN HULTGREN
Kentucky EMS Connection

LOUISVILLE — A bill in the Kentucky House that would perform some housekeeping for the Kentucky Board of EMS was amended yesterday to require an EMT's scope of practice to be defined under consultation with the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure and the Kentucky Board of Nursing.

The amendment to House Bill 178 was filed by Rep. Robert Damron.

The Kentucky Ambulance Providers Association posted a message on their Internet site saying that, while KAPA supports HB 178, the floor amendment filed last night by Rep. Damron would "drastically change or even take away the expanded scope of practice for the EMT-FR, EMT-B, and Paramedic."

"KAPA strongly opposes this amendment. You are urged to call your representative in support of House Bill 178 but in opposition to the amendment," the statement on KAPA's Internet site read.

Brian Bishop, director of the Kentucky Board of EMS, addressed the amendment by saying: "I have talked with Joe Bradshaw and KAPA is not in support of this, as well as checking with Wendell Hatfield with the Central Kentucky EMS Alliance who assures me that they did not ask for this."

"In discussion with Rep. Dameron," Bishop said, "he assures me that this amendment was brought, written, and is being pushed by James Ritchey only."

Ritchey was the former chair of KAPA's legislative affairs committee who retired last year from EMS and KAPA.

The full text of the bill and the amendment is available on the Legislative Research Commission's Internet site at http://lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/05RS/HB178.htm.

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