Section 19a-179-4 - Primary service area responder (PSAR)(a) OEMS shall assign, in writing, a primary service area responder for each primary service area. All municipalities within the State of Connecticut shall be covered by said assignments. Primary service area responders shall be either licensed or certified by OEMS pursuant to C.G.S. Sec. 19a-180. An express condition of licensure or certification as an emergency medical service provider shall be the availability and willingness of the emergency medical service provider to properly carry out any PSAR assignment made by OEMS pursuant to this section of these regulations.(b)The factors to be considered by OEMS in assigning any emergency medical services provider as a PSAR shall be as follows:(1) Size of population to be served;(2) Effect of proposed PSAR assignment on other emergency medical service providers in the area;(3) Geographic locations of the proposed PSAR provider;(4) The proposed PSAR's record of response time;(5) The proposed PSAR's record of activation time;(6) The proposed PSAR's level of licensure or certification; and,(7) Other factors which OEMS determines to be relevant to the provision of efficient and effective emergency medical services to the population to be served. Prior to such assignment, OEMS shall solicit the advice and recommendation of the appropriate regional council and the chief administrative official of the municipality in which the PSAR lies for consideration in light of the above factors.
(c) Each PSAR shall be assigned to only one designated response service for each given category of service available. Any circumstances under which another designated response service would receive first call priority, such as central dispatch sending the closest available vehicle, shall be stipulated in the assignment of the PSAR.(d) A PSAR assignment may be withdrawn when it is determined by OEMS that it is in the best interests of patient care to do so. Upon transmittal to OEMS of the recommendation of the appropriate regional council, along with reasons in support of said recommendation, that withdrawal of a PSAR assignment is appropriate, OEMS shall institute proceedings pursuant to C.G.S. Sec. 19a-177 through Sec. 19a-182, inclusive, and the applicable regulations of the department of health services promulgated thereunder. The regional council and the designated primary service area responder shall be permitted to present evidence and arguments to the commissioner in support of their respective positions. Upon consideration of the council recommendation and any other evidence or argument presented, the commissioner shall make a decision, in writing, whether to withdraw the assignment. If an assignment is withdrawn, OEMS shall at the same time assign the PSAR responsibility to another provider. The commissioner may initiate such proceedings without being requested to do so by the council, but shall notify the council of its intent.(e) Where the chief administrative official of the municipality in which the PSA lies can demonstrate to the commissioner that an emergency exists and that the safety, health and welfare of the citizens of the affected area are jeopardized by the performance of the assigned primary service area responder, that chief administrative official may petition the commissioner, in writing, to suspend the assignment immediately. In such cases, the chief administrative official shall develop a plan acceptable to the commissioner for the alternative provision of primary service area responder responsibilities. Upon a finding that an emergency exists and that the safety, health, and welfare of the citizens of the affected area are jeopardized by the performance of the assigned primary service area responder, the commissioner may suspend the assignment immediately and order a plan for alternative provision of emergency medical services, pending prompt compliance with the requirements of the subsection (d) above.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 19a-179-4