What's Being Discussed

The Emergency Medical Personnel Advisory Committee (EMPAC) is meeting to discuss several proposals aimed at updating how Hawaii licenses and regulates emergency medical professionals. Key topics include:

• Creating a unified EMS licensure and credentialing framework — The Department of Health (DOH) is proposing a standardized system for licensing emergency medical services (EMS) workers, with DOH serving as the official credentialing agency.
• Modernizing scope of practice rules — The committee will discuss updating what emergency medical professionals are legally allowed to do, and how those rules should be structured going forward.
• Expanding definitions in administrative rules — Proposed rule changes would formally recognize non-transport EMS settings (situations where patients aren't taken to a hospital) and community paramedicine programs, which are already being developed and funded by DOH.
• Simplifying out-of-state license verification — Currently, applicants must verify every license or certification they have ever held, even inactive ones. A proposal would change this to require verification of active licenses only, reducing delays for applicants.

Decisions Expected

• The committee will vote to approve minutes from the August 26, 2026 meeting.
• The discussion items are proposals — formal votes or recommendations may follow, but no final rule changes are being adopted at this meeting.

Who Should Pay Attention

• EMTs, paramedics, and other emergency medical professionals working or seeking licensure in Hawaii
• EMS agencies and fire departments involved in community paramedicine or non-transport programs
• Healthcare administrators and policymakers interested in EMS regulatory changes
• Out-of-state EMS workers looking to become licensed in Hawaii