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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2955 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1050
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Daniel J. Hunt
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to improve patient access to non-emergency medical transportation.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Daniel J. Hunt13th Suffolk1/19/2023 1 of 4
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2955 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1050
By Representative Hunt of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1050) of Daniel
J. Hunt relative to payment of patient access to non-emergency medical transportation. Financial
Services.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act to improve patient access to non-emergency medical transportation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official
2Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:-
3 Section xx. If required by the commission, any prior authorization for nonemergency
4ambulance and wheelchair van transportation to inpatient and outpatient dialysis treatment,
5inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services, and inpatient and outpatient post-acute care,
6shall be valid for a minimum of 3 business days.
7 SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the
8following new section:-
9 Section XX. (a) The division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health
10maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms and third-party administrators
11under contract to a Medicaid managed care organization or primary care clinician plan shall issue
12payments to eligible providers, as defined by regulation 101 CMR 327.00, and nonpublic 2 of 4
13ambulance service providers, as defined by regulation 101 CMR 327.00, in an amount no less
14than 2 and one half times the determined rates for authorized ambulance and wheelchair van
15services for: ambulance service, advanced life support, nonemergency transport (101 CMR
16327.00 Code A0426); ambulance service, basic life support, nonemergency transport (101 CMR
17327.00 Code A0428); nonemergency wheelchair van transportation (101 CMR 327.00 Code
18A0130); nonemergency wheelchair transportation with loaded mileage (101 CMR 327.00 Code
19S0215) and; nonemergency wheelchair transportation with patient attendant or escort (101 CMR
20327.00 Code T2001) when transporting covered members to inpatient and outpatient dialysis
21treatment, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services, and inpatient and outpatient post-
22acute care, inclusive. Any required prior authorization for these services shall be valid for a
23minimum of 3 business days.
24 (b) The executive office shall promulgate regulations as necessary to carry out this
25section.
26 SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
27adding the following new section:-
28 Section XX. If required by a policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance
29issued, delivered or renewed within or without the commonwealth, which is considered
30creditable coverage under section 1 of chapter 111M, any prior authorization for nonemergency
31ambulance and wheelchair van transportation to inpatient and outpatient dialysis treatment,
32inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services, and inpatient and outpatient post-acute care,
33shall be valid for a minimum of 3 business days. 3 of 4
34 SECTION 4. Chapter 176A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
35adding the following new section:-
36 Section XX. If required by a contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an
37individual or group hospital service plan that is delivered, issued or renewed within the
38commonwealth, any prior authorization for nonemergency ambulance and wheelchair van
39transportation to inpatient and outpatient dialysis treatment, inpatient and outpatient behavioral
40health services, and inpatient and outpatient post-acute care, shall be valid for a minimum of 3
41business days.
42 SECTION 5. Chapter 176B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
43adding the following new section:-
44 Section XX. If required by a subscription certificate under an individual or group medical
45service agreement delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth, any prior
46authorization for nonemergency ambulance and wheelchair van transportation to inpatient and
47outpatient dialysis treatment, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services, and inpatient
48and outpatient post-acute care, shall be valid for a minimum of 3 business days.
49 SECTION 6. Chapter 176G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
50adding the following new section:-
51 Section xx. If required by an individual or group health maintenance contract that is
52issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth, any prior authorization for
53nonemergency ambulance and wheelchair van transportation to inpatient and outpatient dialysis
54treatment, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services, and inpatient and outpatient post-
55acute care, shall be valid for a minimum of 3 business days. 4 of 4
56
57 SECTION 7.
58 Section XX. a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the
59contrary, the health policy commission, in collaboration with center for information and analysis,
60shall study the adequacy of reimbursement rates of MassHealth and commercial carriers for
61nonemergency medical transportation, including but not limited to, the role of external economic
62factors on the development, sustainability, and retention of the emergency medical service
63workforce, such as the increases in the minimum wage and competition from for-profit
64industries.