RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 638 (HB 1012) 2022 Regular Session Lyons
New law provides that, for purposes of new law, "non-emergency medical transportation"
and "NEMT" mean transportation provided to a Medicaid beneficiary to or from a medically
necessary Medicaid-covered service. Stipulates that the term shall not include any
non-emergency or other type of transportation by ambulance.
New law requires that the La. Medicaid program include NEMT services. Establishes that
the purpose of NEMT services shall be to provide non-emergency medical transportation to
a Medicaid beneficiary after all other reasonable means of free transportation for that person
have been explored and found to be unavailable. Requires the Medicaid beneficiary or his
representative to confirm that the beneficiary has no other means of transportation.
New law prohibits NEMT services from being utilized for transportation to or from a
pharmacy, a nursing facility, hospice care, or a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants, and Children (commonly known as "WIC") appointment at an office of
public health location.
New law prohibits healthcare providers within the La. Medicaid program from contracting
with or hiring a transportation company to provide NEMT services if that company does not
meet local, city, and state requirements to provide non-emergency medical transportation as
defined in new law and in existing administrative rule of the La. Department of Health.
Effective August 1, 2022.
(Adds R.S. 40:1257.1-1257.4)