1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to human services; adjusting reimbursement 
  1.3             rates for special transportation services; amending 
  1.4             Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 256B.0625, 
  1.5             subdivision 17. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 256B.0625, 
  1.8   subdivision 17, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 17.  [TRANSPORTATION COSTS.] (a) Medical assistance 
  1.10  covers transportation costs incurred solely for obtaining 
  1.11  emergency medical care or transportation costs incurred by 
  1.12  nonambulatory persons in obtaining emergency or nonemergency 
  1.13  medical care when paid directly to an ambulance company, common 
  1.14  carrier, or other recognized providers of transportation 
  1.15  services.  For the purpose of this subdivision, a person who is 
  1.16  incapable of transport by taxicab or bus shall be considered to 
  1.17  be nonambulatory. 
  1.18     (b) Medical assistance covers special transportation, as 
  1.19  defined in Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0315, subpart 1, item F, 
  1.20  if the provider receives and maintains a current physician's 
  1.21  order by the recipient's attending physician.  The commissioner 
  1.22  shall establish maximum medical assistance reimbursement rates 
  1.23  for special transportation services for persons who need a 
  1.24  wheelchair lift van or stretcher-equipped vehicle and for those 
  1.25  who do not need a wheelchair lift van or stretcher-equipped 
  2.1   vehicle.  The average of these two rates must not 
  2.2   exceed ~~$14~~ $17.50 for the base rate and ~~$1.10~~ $1.20 per mile.  
  2.3   Special transportation provided to nonambulatory persons who do 
  2.4   not need a wheelchair lift van or stretcher-equipped vehicle, 
  2.5   may be reimbursed at a lower rate than special transportation 
  2.6   provided to persons who need a wheelchair lift van or 
  2.7   stretcher-equipped vehicle.