BILL NUMBER: AB 2545AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 18, 2012 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Logue FEBRUARY 24, 2012 An act to add Section 14136.6 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2545, as amended, Logue. Medi-Cal: nonemergency medical transportation. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law provides for a schedule of health care benefits under the Medi-Cal program, including medical transportation services, subject to utilization controls. This bill would require nonemergency medical transportation services provided to Medi-Cal beneficiaries by managed care organizations directly or under contractual arrangements to be subject to the same personnel, equipment, and inspection requirements as nonemergency medical transportation services provided by fee-for-service enrolled providers , as specified . This bill would provide that a nonemergency medical transportation services provider is not prohibited from establishing higher standards, as specified. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 14136.6 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 14136.6. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, nonemergency medical transportation services provided to Medi-Cal beneficiaries by managed care organizations directly or under contractual arrangements shall be subject to the same personnel, equipment, and inspection requirements as nonemergency medical transportation services provided by fee-for-service enrolled providers. These requirements shall be, at a minimum, consistent with Sections 51151.7, 51231.1, 51231.2, and 51323 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, as those sections read on January 1, 2013. (b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a nonemergency medical transportation services provider from establishing additional standards, provided that these standards are, at a minimum, consistent with the standards prescribed in Sections 51151.7, 51231.1, 51231.2, and 51323 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, as those sections read on January 1, 2013.