(a) Preparation.--

(1) The department, with the assistance of the board, shall prepare a Statewide EMS system plan, which plan shall include both short-range and long-range goals and objectives, and shall make the plan available to the General Assembly and all concerned agencies, entities and individuals.

(2) A regional EMS system plan, upon approval of the department, shall:

(i) Become part of the Statewide EMS system plan.

(ii) Include for the EMS region the same types of information that subsection (b) requires for the Statewide plan.

(b) Contents.--At a minimum, the Statewide plan shall contain:

(1) An inventory of EMS resources available within this Commonwealth.

(2) An assessment of the effectiveness of the existing EMS system and a determination of the need for changes to the EMS system.

(3) Performance measures for delivery of EMS to all persons in this Commonwealth.

(4) Methods to be used in achieving the stated performance measures.

(5) A schedule for achievement of the stated performance measures.

(6) A method for monitoring and evaluating whether the stated performance measures are being achieved.

(7) Estimated costs for achieving the stated performance measures.

(c) Revisions.--

(1) The department shall collect and analyze EMS data for the purpose of:

(i) Revising the Statewide EMS system plan, including determining the status of the Statewide EMS system, the degree of compliance with the requirements of this chapter and the effectiveness of EMS systems in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with medical emergencies.

(ii) Planning future EMS system initiatives.

(2) Persons regulated by the department under this chapter and dispatchers of EMS agencies shall provide data, without charge, as reasonably requested by the department and regional EMS councils, to aid them in developing and revising Statewide and regional EMS system plans and in conducting investigations under this chapter as authorized by the department.

(d) Annual reports.--The department shall annually publish comprehensive and specific reports of activity and plan implementation.

(e) Use of Statewide plan.--

(1) The department shall use the Statewide plan for contract and grant purposes as set forth in section 8112(a) (relating to contracts and grants).

(2) Nothing in the Statewide plan shall be construed to vest the department with any regulatory authority.

Cross References. Section 8111 is referred to in section 8105 of this title.