(1) Applications for licensing and renewal of licensing must be made using department-approved electronic forms. Except as provided under (10), the term of an EMS license is two years. Applications must be accompanied by the license fee and proof of current single occurrence malpractice insurance and liability insurance coverage. Copies of the accrediting body certifications must be included if the application is for renewal of a license and the service is accredited by an accrediting body without variance or limitations. The application, license fee, and all required supporting documents must be received by the department not less than 30 days prior to the commencement of a new emergency medical service or 15 days prior to the expiration of the license, in the case of an application for renewal. 

(2) An application for a ground ambulance service license, including for renewal of a license, must include documentation of current single occurrence automobile vehicle liability insurance coverage, unless exempt under 61-6-303, MCA.

(3) An application for an air ambulance service, including the renewal of a license, must include documentation of current and unrestricted FAA air medical ambulance certification and an attestation that the operations comply with FAA Regulations at 14 CFR Part 135 and related circulars in effect as of the date of application. If the applicant intends to provide rotor wing service, the applicant must also submit an attestation that the operations comply with FAA regulations at 14 CFR Part 135, Subpart L, and related circulars in effect as of the date of the application. The same documentation and attestation requirements also apply to contractor operations if the applicant contracts for service with another provider.

(4) Within 30 working days after an emergency medical service application has been initiated, the emergency medical service's manager must complete the required fields in the department's licensing management system.

(5) Within 30 days from receipt of an emergency medical service license application or, if the department requests additional information about the application, within 30 days from receipt of that information, the department shall:

(a) issue the license;

(b) issue the license with stipulations;

(c) issue a provisional license; or

(d) deny the license.

(6) The department may deny an emergency medical service license if:

(a) the application does not provide all of the requested information; or

(b) there is evidence that the applicant is not complying with these rules.

(7) If the department does not take action on the application within 30 days after its receipt, the emergency medical services license must be issued unless the applicant is known to be in violation of these rules.

(8) Except as provided under (9), the department shall inspect each emergency medical service prior to issuing a license. If an inspection cannot be conducted, the department may issue a provisional license until an inspection can be completed.

(9) An ambulance service renewing its service license at the same level of service that holds valid and current accreditation without variance or limitations from an accrediting body is exempt from vehicle, equipment, and operation inspections. The ambulance service must still request, pay for, and display state-issued permits for each ambulance.

(10) To establish staggered terms of licensing:

(a) when the department receives a completed license application for a new emergency medical service, it will assign that service a number; and

(b) if the department grants the license:

(i) an odd-numbered service will be issued a license expiring December 31 of the year in which it was issued; and

(ii) an even-numbered service will be issued a license expiring December 31 of the year following the year in which it was issued.

(11) The service license must be updated within ten days when any information contained in the service license application changes.

(12) If an emergency medical service from another state identifies Montana as part of its service area, and if it regularly provides an initial emergency medical services response into Montana, the emergency medical service must obtain a Montana emergency medical services license as provided by these rules, unless the other state's licensing standards are substantially comparable to those of Montana, in which case the department may license these services through a reciprocal agreement with the other state.

(13) An emergency medical service responding into Montana to transfer patients from a Montana medical facility to a non-Montana medical facility is not required to obtain a Montana license if it is licensed in its state of origin.