DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 662 Reengrossed 2016 Regular Session Barras
Abstract: Authorizes a fee on emergency ground ambulance service providers, establishes the
maximum allowable fee amount, and provides for use of the fee to pay enhanced
reimbursements to providers.
Present law authorizes provider fees to be paid by certain healthcare providers.
Proposed law retains present law and establishes a provider fee for emergency ground ambulance
service providers.
Proposed law prohibits the amount of the initial fee from exceeding the total cost to the state of
providing the healthcare service subject to the fee and prohibits the amount of the fees imposed from
exceeding 1.5% of the net operating revenue of emergency ground ambulance service providers.
Proposed law provides for the disposition of the fee including the deposit of the collected fees into
the state treasury with the required amount credited to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund prior
to the state treasurer placing the remaining amount into the Ground Ambulance Service Provider
Trust Fund Account within the La. Medical Assistance Trust Fund.
Proposed law provides for the use of the collected fees to pay enhanced reimbursements to
emergency ground ambulance service providers.
Proposed law establishes the procedure for changing the fee amount after the first year and prohibits
the subsequent assessment from exceeding 3.5% of the net operating revenue of emergency ground
ambulance service providers.
Proposed law provides for the termination of the fee collection and the return of monies collected.
Proposed law requires the Dept. of Health and Hospitals to promulgate all necessary rules
and regulations, submit any necessary Medicaid state plan amendments no later than 90 days after
the effective date of proposed law, and take all other actions as are necessary to institute the
assessments and reimbursement enhancements provided for proposed law.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 46:2625.1) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to the
original bill:
1. Add provisions prescribing the deposit of the collected fees into the Ground Ambulance
Service Provider Trust Fund Account.
2. Add provisions establishing the procedure for changing the fee amount after the first
year.
3. Add provisions requiring the collected fees to be used to provide enhanced
reimbursements.
4. Add provisions for the termination of the fee.
5. Add definitions.
6. Require DHH to perform all actions necessary to implement proposed law.
7. Add an effective date.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Clarify that payment of reimbursement enhancements is limited to years when the
assessment is collected.
3. Clarify that state general funds are to be used only to fund the state's share of the
reimbursement.
4. Clarify that the supplemental amount paid to providers is limited to the amount in the
Emergency Ground Ambulance Service Trust Fund.
5. Clarify that 65% of providers have to agree to a change in the reimbursement formula.