26B-2-249. Non-medical transport -- Receiving health care facility requirements.

630 words·~3 min read·/ut/title-26b/chapter-2/26b-2-249

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 5/6/2026

(1)As used in this section:

(a)"Adequate time" means:

(i)for an originating facility located in a county of the fourth, fifth, or sixth class as classified under Section 17-60-104 , four hours of being discharged by the originating facility; or

(ii)for an originating facility not described in Subsection (1)(a)(i) , two hours of being discharged by the originating facility.

(b)"Ambulance transportation" means transportation provided by a person licensed under Title 53, Chapter 2d, Emergency Medical Services Act.

(c)"Health care provider" means:

(i)a physician licensed under Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act, or Title 58, Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice Act;

(ii)a physician assistant licensed under Title 58, Chapter 70a, Utah Physician Assistant Act; or

(iii)an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under Subsection 58-31b-301(2)(e) .

(d)"Interfacility transfer" means the transferring of a patient between an originating facility and a receiving facility.

(i)"Non-medical transportation" means transportation that does not:

(A)provide medical services during transport; or

(B)employ or provide trained medical personnel for transporting an individual.

(ii)"Non-medical transportation" includes transportation provided by a family member or public transit.

(f)"Originating facility" means a health care facility where a patient is currently admitted or being treated.

(g)"Receiving facility" means a health care facility that will receive a patient from an originating facility.

(2)A health care facility shall allow a patient to use non-medical transportation for an interfacility transfer if:

(a)the patient is not subject to:

(i)temporary commitment described in Section 26B-5-331 ; or

(ii)involuntary commitment described in Section 26B-5-332 ;

(b)the patient's health care provider at the originating facility determines that:

(i)the patient is not in a condition described in Section 53-2d-405 ; and

(ii)the patient's current medical and mental condition does not require ambulance transportation to the receiving facility; and

(c)the transfer would not violate the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act described in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1395dd.

(3)A patient may request that a health care facility or health care provider determine whether the patient is eligible to use non-medical transportation under Subsection

(2).

(4)For a patient eligible to use non-medical transportation for an interfacility transfer, the health care facility shall provide a written notice to the patient that states:

(a)the patient's medical and mental condition does not meet medical necessity for ambulance transportation;

(b)insurance may elect not to cover the charges for ambulance transportation;

(c)the patient may be responsible for the cost of ambulance transportation; and

(d)the current transportation rate and mileage rate established under Section 53-2d-503 .

(5)If a patient uses non-medical transportation as described in this section and arrives at the receiving facility within adequate time, the receiving facility may not:

(a)charge the patient or the patient's insurance or other health benefit plan for admission or readmission services unless medical staff have reason to believe the patient's medical condition has changed from when the originating facility discharged the patient to the time of the patient's arrival at the receiving facility; or

(b)assign the available bed that the patient was offered upon discharge from the originating facility to an individual that is not the patient.

(6)An originating facility or health care provider is immune from civil action for acts or omissions made when allowing a patient to use non-medical transportation if the patient's medical or mental condition at the time the originating facility discharges the patient did not require ambulance transportation to the receiving facility.

(7)Nothing in this section restricts a patient's ability to refuse health care services, including any form of transportation.

Enacted by Chapter 150 , 2026 General Session