Ambulance Standards

The Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of EMS has the responsibility of licensing EMS providers, practitioners, and vehicles functioning in the State of Louisiana that are subject to licensing statutes. Emergency Medical Services providers (ambulance services) are licensed by the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of EMS. This includes both ground and air ambulance services. In addition, all emergency medical vehicles (ambulances, air ambulances, emergency medical response and sprint vehicles) are required to be licensed by LDH.

"Ambulance" means any authorized emergency vehicle, equipped with warning devices, designed and operated as a part of a regular course of conduct or business to transport a sick or injured individual or which is advertised or otherwise held out to the public as such. "Ambulance" shall not mean a hearse or other funeral home vehicle utilized for the transportation of the dead. "Ambulance service" or "ambulance provider" means any person, firm, association, or government entity owning, controlling, or operating any business or service which furnishes, operates, conducts, maintains, advertises, engages in, proposes to engage in, or professes to engage in the business or service of transporting, in ambulances, individuals who may need medical attention during transport.

The mission of the Ambulance Standard section of the Bureau of EMS is to enforce regulatory compliance of EMS agencies within the State of Louisiana. This is accomplished through periodic surveys/inspections of the providers that are licensed and/or certified to operate in Louisiana. All inspectors have earned, or are in the process of earning, certification from the Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation (CLEAR).

The Bureau of EMS also investigates complaints received regarding allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and extortion, and noncompliance with federal and/or state regulations, which fall under the purview of the state survey agency.

Directory of Approved Louisiana EMS Providers

Surge Ambulance Placarding

Surge ambulances provide additional coverage in emergency response to natural and man-made disasters. The Bureau of EMS works closely with the Louisiana Emergency Response Network (LERN), the Louisiana Ambulance Alliance (LAA), and other state stakeholders to coordinate this response.

Ambulance Licensure

Initial Licensure

Emergency Medical Services providers shall be licensed by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). LDH is the only licensing authority for EMS providers in the State. It shall be unlawful to operate as an EMS Provider without possessing a current, valid license issued by LDH.

A completed initial license application packet for an EMS provider shall be submitted to, and approved by, LDH prior to an applicant functioning as an Emergency Medical Services provider.

An initial licensing packet includes the following:

Completed Emergency Medical Services Provider licensure application; (Initial License Application)
Non-refundable licensing fee of $150 plus $75 per vehicle ambulance, sprint, or aircraft;
Written declaration of the service area and a map of the service area;
Attach copies of all pertinent municipal and parish licenses and permits including Certificates of Need if they apply;
List of all ambulance stations – include complete geographical address including zip code;
List of all EMS Practitioners and/or employees that are certified or licensed personnel, including National Certification number and expiration (if applicable), Louisiana license number and expiration date, driver’s license number and expiration date, CPR type and expiration date, pilot’s license number and expiration date (EMS Practitioner Credentials);
List name of medical director and that such director is a physician licensed to practice medicine by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners;
List of all vehicles: ambulance and sprint vehicles include VIN, make, year, model, type, license plate number, unit (fender) number;
Certificates of Insurance: Medical Malpractice, Automobile Liability, General Liability - We do not accept Louisiana Automobile Insurance Identification Cards;
Copy of current medical protocols signed by the physician/medical director.
A copy of their standard operating procedures. An electronic copy may be submitted;
A copy of the services current equipment and supply checklist;
Attach a copy of your current CLIA Waiver certificate, and United States Drug Enforcement Administration Controlled Substance registration;
Attach a copy of the Articles of Incorporation;
Attach a copy of the Act of Sale or other Act of Transfer;
Copy of the applicant’s criminal background check from the Louisiana State Police, and proof of United States or legal resident alien status from the United States Department of Homeland Security;
For air ambulance services only: FAA Part 135 Certificate, FAA Aircraft Certificate of Registration*, FAA Certificate of Airworthiness*, FAA pilot’s license (for each pilot) (*denotes that one is required for each aircraft).

The applicant must be prepared to be operational for an initial inspection within 90 days after payment of the application fee. If the applicant is unable to do so, the application will be closed.

Prior to the initial license being issued to the provider, an initial licensing inspection shall be conducted on-site at the ambulance provider to assure compliance with licensing standards and appropriate federal, state or local statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations.

Until the initial license is issued to the provider by the department, no patient shall be provided ambulance services.

Re-Licensure

An ambulance service must be renewed annually. In order to renew a license, the EMTS provider shall submit a completed license renewal application packet to the department at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the existing license.

The license renewal application packet shall include:

A completed EMS Provider license renewal application
A non-refundable licensing fee of $100 plus $75 per vehicle ambulance, sprint, or aircraft

The following must be uploaded onto a USB drive and submitted with payment:

List of all EMS Practitioners and/or employees that are certified or licensed personnel, including National Certification number and expiration (if applicable), Louisiana license number and expiration date, driver’s license number and expiration date, CPR type and expiration date, pilot’s license number and expiration date (EMS Practitioner Credentials);
List of all ambulance stations – include complete geographical address including zip code
List of all vehicles: ambulance and sprint vehicles include VIN, make, year, model, type, license plate number, unit (fender) number
Certificates of Insurance: Medical Malpractice, Automobile Liability, General Liability- We do not accept Louisiana Automobile Insurance Identification Cards
A copy of the current medical protocols, signed by the physician/medical director.
A copy of the standard operating procedures.
A copy of the services current equipment and supply checklist.
For air ambulance services only: FAA Part 135 Certificate, FAA Aircraft Certificate of Registration*, FAA Certificate of Airworthiness*, FAA pilot’s license (for each pilot) (*denotes that one is required for each aircraft). A copy of their standard operating procedures.

Failure to submit to the department a completed license renewal application packet prior to the expiration of the current license will result in the voluntary non-renewal of the EMS provider license.

EMS Provider Fleet Addition or Temporary Vehicle

Fleet Addition

All additions to your fleet (ground, air, or sprint), whether permanent or temporary, must be reported to the department and “permitted” for use prior to the vehicle being used to run calls and transport patients.

Submit the following:

Completed Request for Inspection Form
Copy of the certificate of registration from the office of Motor Vehicles or the Federal Aviation Administration
Proof of commercial automobile or aircraft liability insurance on the vehicle
$75.00 per vehicle inspection fee

Temporary Vehicles

Any vehicle borrowed, leased or rented by the service for less than 90 days shall not be subject to a vehicle inspection fee. All vehicles shall be subject to compliance with the minimum licensing regulations for EMS providers and are issued a temporary notice of approval for use. The temporary approval shall be carried in the vehicle at all times. Submit the following:

Bureau of EMS Payment Procedure

All documents and payments (in the form of a money order or company check) must be mailed to the same location:

Bureau of EMS
Attn: Compliance Coordinator
7273 Florida Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

For EMS Providers - Significant Changes in Operation

Physical Address of the Headquarters

Please submit the following to complete this process:

A "Letter of Intent" describing the specifics of the change (address changed from and to) that has occurred and the effective date of that change
A completed license application
The fee of $100

Agency Name Change

Please submit the following to complete this process:

A "Letter of Intent" describing the specifics of the change that has occurred and the effective date of that change
A completed license application
The fee of $25
A copy of the documents or articles of incorporation from the Secretary of State's Office indicating the change

Substation Changes

Phone number, 24-hour contact procedure, address or phone number of any substation or the addition of any substations, insurance coverage

Key Administrative Personnel Change

Any change regarding the facility's key administrative personnel shall be reported in writing to the department within five working days of the change.

Key administrative personnel include the following:

Administrator
Director of Operations
Medical Director

Cessation of Business

If at any time the ambulance service is no longer operational, for any reason other than a man-made or natural disaster, the license shall be deemed to be invalid and shall be returned to the department within five working days.
The agency owner shall be responsible for notifying the department of the location of all records and a contact person.
All emergency vehicles no longer in use shall have all audible and visible warning signals and markings indicating their emergency status removed.

Change in Service Area

Expansion of Service Area

An ambulance service area is a territory in which the ambulance provider renders services, has vehicles posted or domiciled, and is legally authorized by the local governing body(ies) to provide services.

If an ambulance provider wishes to expand into additional service areas, he must notify the department at least 72 hours in advance.
The provider shall also provide a copy of all necessary local permits and licenses or other legal clearances.
Within 90 days of moving into a new territory, the ambulance service shall furnish the department with a copy of the necessary protocol approvals by the appropriate parish or component medical society in accordance with RS 40:1234E.1.

Withdrawal from a Service Area

If an ambulance service withdraws from a territory, it must notify the department at least 30 days in advance.
It must provide the department with evidence that it has notified the appropriate local authorities that it will no longer be providing ambulance service in the area.

Change of Ownership

Providers must complete this document when they have a change in their ownership structure. This document would be used for both a change of ownership (CHOW) as defined by state and/or federal regulations, or a change of ownership information (CHOI) that does not meet the state and/or federal regulations CHOW definition.

For the Bureau of EMS to make a CHOW/CHOI determination, all providers must submit the following documents:

*Letter of Intent (including d/b/a and entity name of the previous and the new owner, the effective date of transfer of ownership, address and phone number)
*A diagram showing the ownership structure “before” and “after” the change
*Copy of the executed Bill of Sale
Initial License Application

If this action is a CHOI, the documents above are the only documents you need to submit. There is no fee for CHOI.

If this action is a CHOW, the following documents are also needed:

Service Area description including map
Notarized certificate of insurance verifying proof of required automobile or aircraft liability insurance (Medical Malpractice, automobile and general liability)
A copy of all medical protocols signed by the physician/medical director with their prescribed approvals by the parish or component medical society, and/or the LERN (electronic copies are acceptable)
Proof that the provider has a Medical Director and such director is a physician licensed to practice by the LSBME and who has responsibility and authority to ensure quality of care and provide guidance for all medical aspects of EMS
Copies of key personnel certifications and professional licensure(s), inclusive of the director of operations and the medical director
For providers of advanced life support, verification that the provider possesses a LA controlled substance license and a U.S. DEA controlled substance registration
List of all units: Ambulance and Sprint Vehicles include VIN, make, year model, type, GVW, license plate number, unit (fender) number, and mileage
For ground transportation providers, a copy of the certification of registration from the Office of Motor Vehicles
For air ambulance providers, a copy of the FAA Part 135 Commercial air Taxi Certificate
List of all ambulance stations: include complete geographical address, including zip code
Proof that the ambulance holds a CLIA certificate commensurate with the level of testing performed
Documentation that the applicant is in compliance with the criminal history check requirements of R.S. 40:12031-12035
A copy of all necessary local permits and licenses to operate in a service area
A copy of the services current equipment and supply checklist

Forms & Documents

Contact

For more info, contact the Bureau of EMS at 225-925-4022 or email Ambulance.Standards@la.gov.