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HF 594

1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Bill Text Versions

Engrossments
Introduction Posted on 02/02/2007
1st Engrossment Posted on 03/27/2007

Current Version - 1st Engrossment

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A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying competitive bidding for medical assistance
nonemergency medical transportation; specifying criteria for level of need
determinations for nonemergency medical transportation; modifying criteria and
increasing reimbursement for medical assistance special transportation services;
requiring a report; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 256B.04,
subdivision 14, by adding a subdivision; 256B.0625, subdivision 17.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256B.04, subdivision 14, is amended to
read:


Subd. 14.

Competitive bidding.

(a) When determined to be effective, economical,
and feasible, the commissioner may utilize volume purchase through competitive bidding
and negotiation under the provisions of chapter 16C, to provide items under the medical
assistance program including but not limited to the following:

(1) eyeglasses;

(2) oxygen. The commissioner shall provide for oxygen needed in an emergency
situation on a short-term basis, until the vendor can obtain the necessary supply from
the contract dealer;

(3) hearing aids and supplies; and

(4) durable medical equipment, including but not limited to:

(i) hospital beds;

(ii) commodes;

(iii) glide-about chairs;

(iv) patient lift apparatus;

(v) wheelchairs and accessories;

(vi) oxygen administration equipment;

(vii) respiratory therapy equipment;

(viii) electronic diagnostic, therapeutic and life support systems;

(5) deleted text begin specialdeleted text end new text begin nonemergency medical new text end transportation deleted text begin servicesdeleted text end new text begin level of need
determinations, disbursement of public transportation passes and tokens, and volunteer
and recipient mileage and parking reimbursements
new text end ; and

(6) drugs.

(b) Rate changes under this chapter and chapters 256D and 256L do not affect
contract payments under this subdivision unless specifically identified.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256B.04, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:


new text begin Subd. 14a. new text end

new text begin Level of need determination. new text end

new text begin Nonemergency medical transportation
level of need determinations must be performed by a physician, a licensed practical nurse,
a registered nurse working under direct supervision of a physician, a physician's assistant,
a nurse practitioner, or a discharge planner. Nonemergency medical transportation level of
need determinations must not be performed more than semiannually on any individual,
unless the individual's circumstances have sufficiently changed so as to require a new level
of need determination. Individuals residing in licensed nursing facilities and individuals
requiring stretcher transportation are exempt from a level of need determination and
are eligible for special transportation services until the individual no longer resides in a
licensed nursing facility or no longer requires stretcher transportation.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256B.0625, subdivision 17, is amended to
read:


Subd. 17.

Transportation costs.

(a) Medical assistance covers transportation costs
incurred solely for obtaining emergency medical care or transportation costs incurred
by eligible persons in obtaining emergency or nonemergency medical care when paid
directly to an ambulance company, common carrier, or other recognized providers of
transportation services.

(b) Medical assistance covers special transportation, as defined in Minnesota Rules,
part 9505.0315, subpart 1, item F, if the recipient has a physical or mental impairment that
would prohibit the recipient from safely accessing and using a bus, taxi, other commercial
transportation, or private automobilenew text begin , or if the recipient resides in a licensed nursing
facility or requires stretcher transportation
new text end .

The commissioner may use an order by the recipient's attending physician to certify that
the recipient requires special transportation services. Special transportation includes
driver-assisted service to eligible individuals. Driver-assisted service includes passenger
pickup at and return to the individual's residence or place of business, assistance with
admittance of the individual to the medical facility, and assistance in passenger securement
or in securing of wheelchairs or stretchers in the vehicle. Special transportation providers
must obtain written documentation from the health care service provider who is serving
the recipient being transported, identifying the time that the recipient arrived. Special
transportation providers may not bill for separate base rates for the continuation of a trip
beyond the original destination. Special transportation providers must take recipients
to the nearest appropriate health care provider, using the deleted text begin most directdeleted text end new text begin quickestnew text end route
availablenew text begin as determined by a commercially available mileage software program approved
by the commissioner
new text end . The maximum medical assistance reimbursement rates for special
transportation services are:

(1) deleted text begin $17deleted text end new text begin $17.50new text end for the base rate and deleted text begin $1.35deleted text end new text begin $1.85new text end per mile for services to eligible
persons who need a wheelchair-accessible van;

(2) deleted text begin $11.50deleted text end new text begin $11.55new text end for the base rate and deleted text begin $1.30deleted text end new text begin $1.35new text end per mile for services to eligible
persons who do not need a wheelchair-accessible van; and

(3) deleted text begin $60deleted text end new text begin $63new text end for the base rate and deleted text begin $2.40deleted text end new text begin $2.45new text end per mile, and an attendant rate of $9
per trip, for services to eligible persons who need a stretcher-accessible vehicle.

Sec. 4. new text begin REPORT.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall present a plan to the legislature by January 15, 2008,
regarding the need for and recommended mechanisms for supplementing rates in counties
with population density lower than 75 percent of the median population density for
counties in the state.
new text end