HB1409: PUBLIC AID-TECH

Legislative Summary

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to adjust the Department's criteria for determining the appropriateness of non-emergency transportation by striking any reference to prohibiting approval of ground ambulance services when the sole purpose of the transport is for the navigation of stairs or the assisting or lifting of a patient at a medical facility or during a medical appointment. Provides that it is the intent of the General Assembly to permit ground ambulance reimbursement for lifting, moving, or navigating stairs when a recipient exhibits extenuating circumstances related to the social determinants of health which would make an otherwise non-eligible ground ambulance transport eligible for reimbursement. Provides that such extenuating circumstances may be established through the completion of a Physician Certification Statement. Requires the Department to establish a methodology for providing reimbursement for: (i) bariatric transports at an amount of one additional base rate for each additional 2 personnel necessary to safely move the patient; and (ii) specialty care transports to include transports originating or terminating at a residence and for intra-facility transports. Provides that, to increase access to non-emergency transportation services, the Department shall increase the base rate for medi-car and stretcher van services to at least $50, and the rate of each attendant for medi-car and stretcher van services to at least $50. Provides that the reimbursement rate shall only apply to stretcher van providers licensed by the Department of Public Health in accordance with the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a grant program for the purpose of building capacity among IMPACT-enrolled and BEP-certified providers of medi-car and stretcher van transportation services. Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Removes pre-hospital or inter-hospital transportation from the definition of "critical care transport". Effective immediately.