2020 -- H 7495 | |
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LC004079 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - MEDICAL ASSISTANCE | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Johnston, Shekarchi, Abney, Serpa, and Blazejewski | |
Date Introduced: February 07, 2020 | |
Referred To: House Finance | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 40-8 of the General Laws entitled "Medical Assistance" is hereby |
2 | amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 40-8-33. Payment to non-emergency medical transportation service providers. |
4 | (a) To support the ability of non-emergency medical transportation service providers to |
5 | provide high quality non-emergency medical transportation services to patients, the executive |
6 | office of health and human services ("executive office") shall adopt and implement a |
7 | methodology for determining a Medicaid fee for services and reimbursement rate, for non- |
8 | emergency medical transportation service providers, that is at least comparable to the rates paid |
9 | for similar services in neighboring states. These fees and rates shall apply to Medicaid eligible |
10 | services. |
11 | (b) The rate determination methodology shall fairly recognize the reasonable costs of |
12 | providing these services. Recognized reasonable costs shall be those appropriate for the |
13 | organization, management, and direct provision of services. |
14 | (c) The executive office may require non-emergency medical transportation service |
15 | providers to provide assurances to the executive office that services are provided in an effective |
16 | and efficient manner, consistent with industry standards. |
17 | (d) The general assembly shall annually appropriate to the department of human services |
18 | such sums as it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. Authorization to |
19 | pay for non-emergency transportation services specified in this section shall be made by |
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1 | representatives of the department of human services, and the state controller is hereby authorized |
2 | and directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of such sum or sums |
3 | or so much thereof as may be required from time to time, upon the receipt by them of properly |
4 | authenticated vouchers; provided, however, that the department of human services may enter into |
5 | cooperative agreements for the transfer of funds to effectuate the purposes set forth in this |
6 | section. |
7 | (e) Commencing July 1, 2020, non-emergent (routine) ambulance transportation, a |
8 | covered service for Medicaid beneficiaries, shall be added to the Rhode Island Medicaid fee-for- |
9 | service schedule using code A0428 with the minimum reimbursement for this service by any |
10 | health insurance payor of one hundred forty-seven dollars ($147) per each trip provided and one |
11 | dollar fifty cents ($1.50) per mile. This rate shall also apply to patients who are dually-eligible for |
12 | coverage through Medicaid and Medicare with no allowance for any co-payment by the patient. |
13 | (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, any Rhode Island or out of |
14 | state based non-emergency medical transportation service provider seeking to do business within |
15 | this state wherever located on or after July 1, 2020 shall be subject to the certificate of need |
16 | licensing provisions set forth in chapter 15 of title 23. Rhode Island providers providing non- |
17 | emergency medical transportation services on or before January 1, 2020 shall be exempt from the |
18 | provisions of this section. |
19 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - MEDICAL ASSISTANCE | |
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1 | This act would: |
2 | (1) Direct the executive office of health and human services (EOHHS) to adopt and |
3 | implement a methodology for determining a Medicaid fee for services and reimbursement rate for |
4 | non-emergency medical transportation service providers that is at least comparable to the rates |
5 | paid for similar services in neighboring states; |
6 | (2) Set a minimum fee for service at one hundred forty-seven dollars ($147) per trip and |
7 | one dollar fifty cents ($1.50) per mile; and |
8 | (3) Require Rhode Island and out of state non-emergency providers seeking to do |
9 | business in this state on or after July 1, 2020 to obtain a certificate of need. |
10 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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