The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Public Health
Office of Emergency Medical Services
2 Boylston Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02116
Tel. (617) 753-7300
Fax: (617) 753-7320
www.mass.gov/dph/oems

MITT ROMNEY
GOVERNOR
KERRY HEALEY
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
TIMOTHY R. MURPHY
SECRETARY
PAUL J. COTE, Jr.
COMMISSIONER	
ADVISORY

TO:	MA Licensed Ambulance Services
	EMCAB Members
FROM:	Abdullah Rehayem, Acting Director
RE:		Waiver of Cutoff Date in 105 CMR 170.355(C) and (D)
DATE:		December 21, 2006
________________________________________________________________________

	Pursuant to his authority under M.G.L. c. 111C, §22, the Commissioner has waived the cutoff date in 105 CMR 170.355(C) and (D), the EMS System Regulations sections regarding, respectively, the duty to dispatch, treat and transport prior to the approval of a service zone plan and the provision of primary ambulance service. 

As a result, 105 CMR 170.355(C) will continue to apply in communities that are not covered by a Department-approved service zone plan after December 31, 2006. Once any community has a Department-approved service zone in place, its duties with regard to dispatch, treatment and transport will be governed by 105 CMR 170.355(B), and 105 CMR 170.355(D) will then apply to the provision of primary ambulance service.

	This waiver does not affect the duty of local jurisdictions to develop service zone plans in accordance with all requirements set forth in chapter 111C, the EMS regulations, and guidance issued by the Department.