UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1236
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A JOINT RESOLUTION directing and urging the Cabinet for Health and Family 1
Services take actions to improve emergency medical services and declaring an 2
emergency. 3
WHEREAS, emergency medical services providers are paid for transporting a 4
patient to a hospital and, only in specific situations, for treating a patient without 5
transporting the patient to a hospital or to another location; and 6
WHEREAS, there is no reimbursement for keeping ambulances ready to respond or 7
for responding to a 911 call where treatment is unnecessary or a patient refuses treatment; 8
and 9
WHEREAS, Medicaid transport rates of $100 for advanced life support and $82.50 10
for basic life support have remained the same for over 10 years, while the costs of 11
providing services have risen significantly; and 12
WHEREAS, relative to Medicaid reimbursement rates, the rates for surrounding 13
states and Medicare are 30 percent to 400 percent higher; and 14
WHEREAS, Medicare reimburses approximately 50 percent of the actual cost of 15
EMS, and Medicaid reimburses approximately 10 percent; and 16
WHEREAS, the Emergency Medical Services Task Force recommended that the 17
Cabinet for Health and Family Services apply for a Medicaid waiver to permit the 18
coverage of triage, treatment, and transport of patients by emergency ambulance services, 19
submit a state Medicaid plan amendment to cover treatment in place without 20
transportation for emergency ambulance services, and to increase Medicaid 21
reimbursement rates for ambulance services as funds become available; 22
NOW, THEREFORE, 23
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 24
Section 1. The General Assembly hereby: 25
(1) Directs the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to: 26
(a) Apply for a Medicaid waiver to permit the coverage of triage, treatment, and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1236
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transport of patients by emergency ambulance services; and 1
(b) Submit a state Medicaid plan amendment to cover treatment in place without 2
transportation for emergency ambulance services; and 3
(2) Urges the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to increase Medicaid 4
reimbursement rates for ambulance services as funds become available. 5
Section 2. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall report to the 6
Interim Joint Committee on Health, Welfare, and Family Services by August 1, 2023, of 7
any actions taken and any necessary legislative action that may be needed to obtain a 8
Medicaid waiver to permit the coverage of triage, treatment, and transport of patients by 9
emergency ambulance services and to obtain approval for a state Medicaid plan 10
amendment to cover treatment in place without transportation for emergency ambulance 11
services targeting individuals with severe mental illness. 12
Section 3. In the event the Legislative Research Commission dissolves the 13
Interim Joint Committee on Health, Welfare, and Family Services and establishes another 14
interim joint committee with jurisdiction over health services, the report required in 15
Section 2 of this Act shall be submitted to that interim joint committee. 16
Section 4. Whereas, the General Assembly believes the citizens of the 17
Commonwealth deserve the best possible emergency medical services, an emergency is 18
declared to exist, and this Resolution takes effect upon its passage and approval by the 19
Governor or upon its otherwise becoming law. 20