Department of Health Services, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services

The report addresses why the State needs to consider changing the Certificate of Necessity (CON) system, its current statutory approach to regulating ambulance services. The CON system provides more regulation than is necessary for overseeing ambulance services. Although CON systems are intended to ensure ambulance coverage throughout the State, and to provide quality assurance, Arizona’s CON system does not guarantee either outcome. Additionally, it limits competition and may prevent the introduction of service improvements that would better meet a community’s needs. As a result, the system should be reevaluated, and other forms of regulation should be considered.

Additionally, the Bureau’s system for investigating and resolving complaints against emergency medical technicians, paramedics, ambulance companies, and related entities needs further improvements.