STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman VINCENT PRIETO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblywoman ANGELICA M. JIMENEZ
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Requires Medicaid program to increase reimbursement for ambulance services provided to Medicaid recipients who are also Medicare eligible to Medicare rate.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
A Supplement to "An Act making appropriations for the support of the State Government and the several public purposes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012 and regulating the disbursement thereof," approved June 30, 2011 (P.L.2011, c.85).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The following language is added to p.113 of P.L.2011, c.85:
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54 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES 24 Special Health Services 7540 Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services GRANTS-IN-AID |
Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.A.C.10:49-7.3 et seq. to the contrary and subject to approval by the federal government, the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services shall increase reimbursement for ambulance services provided to Medicaid recipients who are also Medicare eligible to the applicable Medicare rate for all levels of ambulance services recognized by Medicare whether or not all levels are currently covered under Medicaid.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This supplemental appropriation adds budget language to the annual appropriations act to require the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services to increase reimbursement for ambulance services provided to Medicaid recipients who are also Medicare eligible to the applicable Medicare rate for all levels of ambulance services recognized by Medicare whether or not all levels are currently covered under Medicaid.
The FY2009 appropriations act included budget language that directed the Medicaid program to increase reimbursement for ambulance services provided to Medicaid recipients who were also Medicare eligible, to the applicable Medicare rate. The appropriations acts for FY2011 and FY2012 did not include this language.
In FY2011 savings of $7.6 million in State and federal funds were expected from the elimination of Medicaid payments for transportation services where Medicare is the primary payer. Furthermore, a reduction in Medicaid reimbursements does not reduce the need for ambulance services; only the reimbursement and funds available to the system are reduced. Governments relying on a contracted provider may see rate increases. Those municipalities that get 9-1-1 service from non-profit rescue squads that bill for service may see a reduction in revenues.