Access to Critical Non-Emergency Transportation Services Act
Bill: H.R.8841 | Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" (R-GA)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Access to Critical Non-Emergency Transportation Services Act
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to work with state Medicaid programs to assist individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid with accessing non-emergency transportation benefits under Medicaid. The bill applies to dually eligible individuals who are participating in the Repetitive, Scheduled Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport Prior Authorization Model under Medicare.

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination 
with single State agencies, to assist certain dual eligible individuals 
 participating in the RSNAT model with accessing non-emergency medical 
assistance benefits under the Medicaid program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Access to Critical Non-Emergency 
Transportation Services Act''.

SEC. 2. ASSISTANCE IN ACCESSING NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE 
              BENEFITS UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this 
section referred to as the ``Secretary''), in coordination with each 
single State agency, shall implement a plan to--
            (1) in the case of a full-benefit dual eligible individual 
        participating in the repetitive non-emergent ambulance 
        transport model (as described in section 1834(l)(16) of such 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)(16))), assist such individual in 
        enrolling in Medicaid and in accessing transportation benefits 
        in accordance with section 1902(a)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1396a(a)(4)); and
            (2) in the case of a dual eligible individual who is not a 
        full-benefit dual eligible individual and is participating in 
        the repetitive non-emergent ambulance transport model (as 
        described in section 1834(l)(16) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1395m(l)(16))), assist such individual in enrolling in 
        Medicaid, provided that in addition to Medicare cost-sharing 
        such individual shall qualify for, and be assisted in 
        accessing, transportation benefits in accordance with section 
        1902(a)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(4)).
    (b) Guidance.--For purposes of carrying out the assistance 
described under subsection (a), not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act the Secretary shall issue guidance to each 
single State agency and Medicare administrative contractor on providing 
assistance to dual eligible individuals participating in the repetitive 
non-emergent ambulance transport model (as described in section 
1834(l)(16) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)(16))) with 
respect to accessing transportation benefits in accordance with section 
1902(a)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(4)).
    (c) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Dual eligible individual.--The term ``dual eligible 
        individual'' has the meaning given such term in section 
        1915(h)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1396n(h)(2)(B)).
            (2) Full-benefit dual eligible individual.--The term 
        ``full-benefit dual eligible individual'' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 1935(c)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1396u-5(c)(6)).
            (3) Medicare administrative contractor.--The term 
        ``Medicare administrative contractor'' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 1874A(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1395kk-1(a)(3)).
            (4) Single state agency.--The term ``single State agency'' 
        means the State agency administering, or supervising the 
        administration of, a State Medicaid program (as described in 
        section 1902(a)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1396a(a)(5))).
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