An Act To Require the State To Adequately Pay for Emergency Medical Services
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1465
Committee Amendment CA_A_H547 (House)
Amends: 22 MRSA §3174-J

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1006, L.D. 1465, Bill, "An Act To 
Require the State To Adequately Pay for Emergency Medical Services" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3174-JJ, first,, as amended by PL 2013, c. 441, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
The department shall reimburse for ambulance services under MaineCare at a level 
that is not less than the average allowable reimbursement rate under Medicare for such 
services or at the highest percent of that level that is possible within resources 
appropriated for those purposes. 
Beginning March 1, 2015, the department shall 
reimburse for ambulance services under MaineCare at a level that is not less than 65% of 
the average allowable reimbursement rate under Medicare for such services. Beginning 
August 1, 2016, the department shall reimburse for ambulance services under MaineCare 
at a level that is not less than 70% of the average allowable reimbursement rate under 
Medicare for such services. 
Sec. 2. Rate study. The Department of Health and Human Services shall contract 
with a 3rd-party consultant to conduct a rate study of Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits 
Manual, Section 5, Ambulance Services. The rate study must account for provider costs 
related to ambulance services. 
The rate study must also assess the feasibility of 
reimbursing for community paramedicine services and potential rates for those services. 
The 3rd-party consultant conducting the study under this section shall invite the 
participation of stakeholders providing ambulance services. 
Sec. 3. Report. The Department of Health and Human Services, no later than 
January 1, 2017, shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over health and human services matters on the department's progress 
on developing a reimbursement rate for community paramedicine services pursuant to 
section 2 of this Act. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1006, L.D. 1465 
Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY OHS) 
Medical Care - Payments to Providers 0147 
Initiative: Provides funding to increase reimbursement for ambulance services to 70% of 
the Medicare allowable rate. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND 
All Other 
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL 
2015-16 
$0 
$0 
2015-16 
$0 
$0 
2016-17 
$443,329 
$443,329 
2016-17 
$786,433 
$786,433 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and increases the reimbursement rate for ambulance 
services under MaineCare from the current no less than 65% of the average allowable 
reimbursement rate under Medicare for such services to no less than 70%, rather than to 
the Medicare rate as in the bill. This amendment also requires the Department of Health 
and Human Services to contract with a 3rd-party consultant to conduct a rate study on 
ambulance services. The rate study must include the feasibility of developing community 
paramedicine reimbursement rates. The Department of Health and Human Services is 
required to submit a report on developing a reimbursement rate for community 
paramedicine programs to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over health and human services matters no later than January 1, 2017. The 
amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 02/29/16 ft"ae. 
LD 1465 
LR 2354(02) 
An Act To Require the State To Adequately Pay for Emergency Medical Services 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'fJ...' { H- 54-1 J 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Federal Expenditures Fund 
Revenue 
Federal Expenditures Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2015-16 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
FY 2016-17 
$443,329 
$443,329 
$786,433 
$786,433 
Projections 
FY 2017-18 
$438,041 
$438,041 
$791,721 
$791,721 
Projections 
FY 2018-19 
$438,041 
$438,041 
$791,721 
$791,721 
The bill includes a General Fund appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services of $443,329 in fiscal 
year 2016-17 to increase reimbursement for ambulance services to 70% of the Medicare allowable rate. Federal 
Expenditures Fund allocations will also be required for the FMAP match. 
LR2354(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1