Article 5. Complaints
12VAC5-31-260. Submission of complaints.
Article 5
Complaints
Any person may submit a complaint. A complaint is submitted in writing to the Office of EMS, signed by the complainant and includes the following information:
1. The name and address of the complainant;
2. The name of the agency, service or person involved;
3. A description of any vehicle involved; and
4. A detailed description of the complaint, including the date, location and conditions and the practice or act that exists or has occurred.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 3 and Volume 19, Issue 9, eff. January 15, 2003.
12VAC5-31-270. Investigation process.
A. The Office of EMS may investigate complaints received about conditions, practices, or acts that may violate any provision of either Article 2.1 of Chapter 4 (§ 32.1-111.1 et seq.) of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia or provision of these regulations.
B. If the Office of EMS determines that the conditions, practices, or acts cited by the complainant are not in violation of applicable sections of the Code of Virginia or these regulations, then the Office of EMS will investigate no further.
C. If the Office of EMS determines that the conditions, practices, or acts cited by the complainant may be in violation of applicable sections of the Code of Virginia or these regulations, then the Office of EMS will investigate the complaint fully in order to determine if a violation took place.
D. The Office of EMS may investigate or continue to investigate and may take appropriate action on a complaint even if the original complainant withdraws his complaint or otherwise indicates a desire not to cause it to be investigated to completion.
E. The Office of EMS may initiate a formal investigation or action based on an anonymous or unwritten complaint.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 3 and Volume 19, Issue 9, eff. January 15, 2003.
12VAC5-31-280. Action by the Office of EMS.
A. If the Office of EMS determines that a violation has occurred, it may apply all provisions of these regulations that it deems necessary and appropriate.
B. At the completion of an investigation and following any appeals, the Office of EMS will notify the complainant.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 3 and Volume 19, Issue 9, eff. January 15, 2003.
12VAC5-31-290. Exclusions from these regulations.
A. Any person or privately owned vehicle not engaged in the business, service, or regular activity of providing medical care or transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise disabled.
B. Any person or vehicle rendering emergency medical services or medical transportation in the case of a major medical emergency when the EMS agencies, vehicles and personnel based in or near the location of such major emergency are insufficient to render services required.
C. EMS agencies, vehicles or personnel based outside of Virginia, except that any agency, vehicle or person responding from outside Virginia to an emergency within Virginia and providing emergency medical services to a patient within Virginia, whether or not the service includes transportation, shall comply with the provisions of these regulations.
D. An agency of the United States government providing emergency medical services in Virginia and any EMS vehicles operated by the agency.
E. Any vehicle owned by an EMS agency used exclusively for the provision of rescue services.
F. Any medical facility, but only with respect to the provision of emergency medical services within the facility.
G. Personnel employed by, or associated with, a medical facility who provides emergency medical services within the medical facility, but only with respect to the services provided therein.
H. Wheelchair interfacility transport services and wheelchair interfacility transport service vehicles that are engaged, whether or not for profit, in the business, service, or regular activity of and exclusively used for transporting wheelchair bound passengers between medical facilities in the Commonwealth when no ancillary medical care or oversight is necessary. However, such services and vehicles shall comply with Department of Medical Assistance Services regulations regarding the transportation of Medicaid recipients to covered services.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 3, eff. January 1, 2003; amended, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.