Section 20-13-108 - Ambulance service - Triage, treat, and transport to alternative destination - Definitions(a) As used in this section: (1)(A) "Alternative destination" means a lower-acuity facility that provides medical services, including without limitation:(i) A federally qualified health center;(ii) An urgent care center;(iii) A physician office or medical clinic, as selected by the patient; and(iv) A behavioral or mental healthcare facility including without limitation a crisis stabilization unit.(B) "Alternative destination" does not include a:(i) Critical access hospital;(iv) Private residence; or(v) Skilled nursing facility;(2) "Ambulance service" means an entity that provides transportation and emergency medical services to a patient and is:(A) Licensed to service a designated area in this state through a basic 911 system under the Arkansas Public Safety Communications and Next Generation 911 Act of 2019, § 12-10-301 et seq.;(B) Authorized and licensed by the Department of Health to provide care and transportation of patients upon the streets and highways of Arkansas; and(C) Licensed under the Ambulance Licensing Act, § 14-266-101 et seq.; and(3)(A) "Telemedicine" means the use of audiovisual electronic information and communication technology to deliver healthcare services, including without limitation the assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management, and self-management of a patient.(B) "Telemedicine" includes store-and-forward technology and remote patient monitoring.(C) "Telemedicine" does not include the use of audio-only electronic technology.(b) An ambulance service's operators may triage and transport a patient to an alternative destination in this state or treat in place if the ambulance service is coordinating the care of the patient through telemedicine with a physician for a medical-based complaint or with a behavioral health specialist for a behavioral-based complaint.Added by Act 2023, No. 480,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2023.