1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health care; modifying medical transportation requirements; 
1.3 	modifying reimbursement; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 
1.4 	256B.0625, subdivision 17, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0625, subdivision 17, is amended to 
1.7 	read:
1.8 		Subd. 17.Transportation costs. (a) Medical assistance covers medical 
1.9 	transportation costs incurred solely for obtaining emergency medical care or transportation 
1.10 	costs incurred by eligible persons in obtaining emergency or nonemergency medical 
1.11 	care when paid directly to an ambulance company, common carrier, or other recognized 
1.12 	providers of transportation services. Medical transportation must be provided by:
1.13 	(1) an ambulance, as defined in section 144E.001, subdivision 2;
1.14 	(2) special transportation; or
1.15 	(3) common carrier including, but not limited to, bus, taxicab, other commercial 
1.16 	carrier, or private automobile.
1.17 	(b) Medical assistance covers special transportation, as defined in Minnesota Rules, 
1.18 	part 9505.0315, subpart 1, item F, if the recipient has a physical or mental impairment that 
1.19 	would prohibit the recipient from safely accessing and using a bus, taxi, other commercial 
1.20 	transportation, or private automobile.
1.21 	The commissioner may use an order by the recipient's attending physician to certify that 
1.22 	the recipient requires special transportation services. Special transportation includes
1.23 	providers shall perform driver-assisted service to services for eligible individuals. 
1.24 	Driver-assisted service includes passenger pickup at and return to the individual's 
2.1 	residence or place of business, assistance with admittance of the individual to the medical 
2.2 	facility, and assistance in passenger securement or in securing of wheelchairs or stretchers 
2.3 	in the vehicle. Special transportation providers must obtain written documentation 
2.4 	from the health care service provider who is serving the recipient being transported, 
2.5 	identifying the time that the recipient arrived. Special transportation providers may not 
2.6 	bill for separate base rates for the continuation of a trip beyond the original destination. 
2.7 	Special transportation providers must take recipients to the nearest appropriate health 
2.8 	care provider, using the most direct route available. The maximum minimum medical 
2.9 	assistance reimbursement rates for special transportation services are:
2.10 	(1) (i) $17 for the base rate and $1.35 per mile for special transportation services to 
2.11 	eligible persons who need a wheelchair-accessible van;
2.12 	(2) (ii)  $11.50 for the base rate and $1.30 per mile for special transportation services 
2.13 	to eligible persons who do not need a wheelchair-accessible van; and
2.14 	(3) (iii)  $60 for the base rate and $2.40 per mile, and an attendant rate of $9 per trip, 
2.15 	for special transportation services to eligible persons who need a stretcher-accessible 
2.16 	vehicle;
2.17 	(2) the base rates for special transportation services in areas defined under RUCA 
2.18 	to be super rural shall be equal to the reimbursement rate established in clause (1) plus 
2.19 	22.6 percent; and
2.20 	(3) for special transportation services in areas defined under RUCA to be rural 
2.21 	or super rural areas:
2.22 	(i) for a trip equal to 17 miles or less, mileage reimbursement shall be equal to 150 
2.23 	percent of the respective mileage rate in clause (1); and
2.24 	(ii) for a trip between 18 and 50 miles, mileage reimbursement shall be equal to 125 
2.25 	percent of the respective mileage rate in clause (1).
2.26 	(c) For purposes of reimbursement rates for special transportation services under 
2.27 	paragraph (b), the zip code of the recipient's place of residence shall determine whether 
2.28 	the urban, rural, or super rural reimbursement rate applies.
2.29 	(d) For purposes of this subdivision, "rural urban commuting area" or "RUCA" 
2.30 	means a census-tract based classification system under which a geographical area is 
2.31 	determined to be urban, rural, or super rural.

2.32 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0625, is amended by adding a 
2.33 	subdivision to read:
3.1 		Subd. 18b.Broker dispatching prohibition. The commissioner shall not use a 
3.2 	broker or coordinator for any purpose related to transportation services under subdivision 
3.3 	18.