SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 111C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition “EMS provider” the following definition:-

“EMS sole provider”, an EMS provider with an agreement, approval or designation as the sole EMS provider in a local jurisdiction or a service zone.

SECTION 2. Said chapter 111C is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-

Section 26.(a)  An EMS sole provider shall not: (i) charge a fee for an item or service furnished greater than any other fee imposed by another EMS provider had such items or services been provided in a local jurisdiction or service zone: (ii) charge a provider of insurance under the General Laws or an uninsured person more than 10 per cent higher rates than the lowest rate the EMS sole provider may charge in the local jurisdiction or service zone.

(b) If an EMS sole provider offers a rate within 10 per cent of the lowest rate under clause (ii) of subsection (a), a health insurance entity conducting business in the commonwealth shall accept such rate for any item or service provided.

(c) The department shall not designate any service zone provider or local jurisdiction provider pursuant to section 10 who is or will be an EMS sole provider if such provider is in violation of this section.

SECTION 3. The department of public health shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this act.