§ 1005.1. General provisions.

 (a)  This chapter applies to ground ambulance services. A person, or other entity, as an owner, agent or otherwise, may not operate, conduct, maintain, advertise or otherwise engage in or profess to be engaged in providing a BLS or ALS ambulance service upon the highways or in other public places in this Commonwealth, unless that person holds a current valid license as a BLS or ALS ambulance service issued by the Department or is exempt from these prohibitions under the act.

 (b)  The Department will license an applicant as a BLS or ALS ambulance service, or both, when it meets the requirements of the act and this part.

 (c)  An ALS ambulance service may employ either or both of the following types of ambulances:

   (1)  A mobile ALS care unit vehicle, which is a vehicle that is designed, constructed, equipped and maintained or operated to provide ALS and BLS emergency medical care to and transportation of patients.

   (2)  An ALS squad unit vehicle, which is a vehicle that is specifically modified and equipped, and is maintained or operated for the purpose of transporting ALS prehospital personnel and equipment to the scene of an emergency.

 (d)  In addition to the general requirements for exception in §  1001.4 (relating to exceptions), the Department may grant exceptions to regulatory licensure standards for ALS and BLS ambulance services that are licensed in a contiguous state if:

   (1)  Requiring compliance with both states’ licensure standards imposes an undue hardship on the individual or service.

   (2)  Standards in the contiguous state are comparable.

   (3)  The exception will not have a negative impact on the quality of care for the population of this Commonwealth.

   The provisions of this §  1005.1 amended October 13, 2000, effective October 14, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 5363. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (247547) to (247548).