Minnesota Legislature
SF 224
as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:12am
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A bill for an act
relating to health care; renaming special transportation services; modifying
medical transportation requirements; modifying reimbursement; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0625, subdivision 17.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0625, subdivision 17, is amended to
read:
Subd. 17.
Transportation costs.
(a) new text begin For purposes of this subdivision, the following
terms have the meanings given unless otherwise provided for in this subdivision.
new text end
new text begin
(1) "Ambulette transportation" means nonemergency medical transportation to
or from a covered service that is provided to a recipient who has a physical or mental
impairment that prohibits the recipient from independently and safely accessing and using
a bus, taxi, other commercial transportation, or private automobile.
new text end
new text begin
(2) "Medical transportation" means the transport of a recipient to obtain a covered
service or the transport of a recipient after the covered service is provided.
new text end
new text begin
(3) "Rural urban commuting area" or "RUCA" means an area determined to be
urban, rural, or super rural by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for
purposes of Medicare reimbursement of ambulance services.
new text end
new text begin (b) new text end Medical assistance covers new text begin medical new text end 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.new text begin
Medical transportation must be provided by:
new text end
new text begin
(1) an ambulance, as defined in section 144E.001, subdivision 2;
new text end
new text begin
(2) ambulette transportation; or
new text end
new text begin
(3) common carrier including, but not limited to, bus, taxicab, other commercial
carrier, or private automobile.
new text end
deleted text begin (b)deleted text end new text begin (c)new text end Medical assistance covers deleted text begin specialdeleted text end new text begin ambulettenew text end 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 automobile.
The commissioner may use an order by the recipient's attending physician to certify
that the recipient requires deleted text begin specialdeleted text end new text begin ambulettenew text end transportation services. deleted text begin Specialdeleted text end new text begin Ambulettenew text end
transportation deleted text begin includesdeleted text end new text begin providers shall performnew text end driver-assisted deleted text begin service todeleted text end new text begin services fornew text end
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. deleted text begin Specialdeleted text end new text begin Ambulettenew text end 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. deleted text begin Specialdeleted text end new text begin Ambulettenew text end
transportation providers may not bill for separate base rates for the continuation of a trip
beyond the original destination. deleted text begin Specialdeleted text end new text begin Ambulettenew text end transportation providers must take
recipients to the nearest appropriate health care provider, using the most direct route
deleted text begin availabledeleted text end . The deleted text begin maximumdeleted text end new text begin minimumnew text end medical assistance reimbursement rates for deleted text begin specialdeleted text end new text begin
ambulettenew text end transportation services are:
(1) new text begin for areas defined under RUCA to be urban:
new text end
new text begin (i) new text end $17 for the base rate and $1.35 per mile for new text begin ambulette transportation new text end services to
eligible persons who need a wheelchair-accessible van;
deleted text begin (2)deleted text end new text begin (ii)new text end $11.50 for the base rate and $1.30 per mile fornew text begin ambulette transportationnew text end
services to eligible persons who do not need a wheelchair-accessible van; deleted text begin and
deleted text end
deleted text begin (3)deleted text end new text begin (iii)new text end $60 for the base rate and $2.40 per mile, and an attendant rate of $9 per trip,
for new text begin ambulette transportation new text end services to eligible persons who need a stretcher-accessible
vehicledeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end
new text begin
(iv) for all ambulette transportation services for a trip equal to or exceeding 51 miles,
the provider shall receive mileage reimbursement for each mile equal to or exceeding 51
miles at 125 percent of the respective mileage rates in this paragraph;
new text end
new text begin
(2) the base rates for ambulette transportation services in areas defined under RUCA
to be rural shall be equal to the reimbursement rate established in clause (1) plus one
percent;
new text end
new text begin
(3) the base rates for ambulette transportation services in areas defined under RUCA
to be super rural shall be equal to the reimbursement rate established in clause (1) plus
22.6 percent; and
new text end
new text begin
(4) for ambulette transportation services in areas defined under RUCA to be rural
and super rural areas:
new text end
new text begin
(i) for a trip equal to 17 miles or less, mileage reimbursement shall be equal to 150
percent of the respective mileage rate in clause (1);
new text end
new text begin
(ii) for a trip between 18 and 50 miles, mileage reimbursement shall be equal to 100
percent of the respective mileage rate in clause (1); and
new text end
new text begin
(iii) for a trip equal to or exceeding 51 miles, mileage reimbursement shall be equal
to 125 percent of the respective mileage rate in clause (1).
new text end
new text begin
(d) For purposes of reimbursement rates for ambulette transportation services under
paragraph (c), the recipient's place of residence shall determine whether the urban, rural,
or super rural reimbursement rate applies.
new text end
Sec. 2. new text begin REIMBURSEMENT REFORM ACT.
new text end
new text begin
Section 1 shall be referred to as the "Nonemergency Medical Transportation
Reimbursement Reform Act of 2009."
new text end
Sec. 3. new text begin REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.
new text end
new text begin
In Minnesota Statutes, sections 256B.04, 256B.062, and 256D.03, and Minnesota
Rules, chapter 9505, the revisor of statutes shall change the terms "special transportation
services" and "special transportation" to "ambulette transportation services" and
"ambulette transportation," as appropriate, wherever the terms appear.
new text end