AB 1168

Medical Assistance reimbursement for nontransport ambulance services

Under current law, the Department of Health Services uses a standardized

coding system produced by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

to describe certain products, supplies, and services for those submitting claims for

reimbursement under the Medical Assistance program, which is known as the

Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). The Medical Assistance

program is a joint state and federal program that provides health services to

individuals who have limited financial resources. This bill directs DHS to change,

for dates of service beginning January 1, 2025, the current maximum

reimbursement allowed under the Medical Assistance program for services provided

under HCPCS code A0998, often referenced as “ambulance response and treatment,

no transport,” from the current maximum allowable fee to a rate that matches the

maximum allowable rate under the Medical Assistance program for reimbursement

of ambulance services that include patient transport.

Emergency medical services education

The bill requires the Technical College System Board to provide grants to

technical colleges that provide emergency medical services courses that train and

prepare individuals for initial certification or initial licensure as an emergency

medical responder or an emergency medical services practitioner.

Tuition and materials costs for emergency medical responders and

emergency medical services practitioners

The bill requires the Higher Educational Aids Board to develop a program to

reimburse individuals or their employers for the cost of tuition and materials

necessary for the individual to qualify for initial certification or initial licensure as

an emergency medical responder or an emergency medical services practitioner. To

be eligible for reimbursement for the costs necessary to qualify for an initial

certification or license, the individual must satisfactorily complete any required

course of instruction, pass any required examination, satisfy any further

requirement established by HEAB, and receive a certification or license from DHS.

Report on scope of practice changes

The bill requires the Emergency Medical Services Board, in consultation with

DHS and the Technical College System Board, to annually submit a report to the

legislature on national changes to the scope of practice of emergency medical

responders, emergency medical services practitioners, or any equivalent

practitioners in other jurisdictions and how those scope of practice changes may

affect training for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services

practitioners in this state.

Levy limit exception

Generally, under current law, local levy limits are applied to the property tax

levies that are imposed by political subdivisions. A political subdivision may not