An Act to Strengthen Local Emergency Medical Services by
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0035
Sponsors: CURRY

Legislative Document
No. 35
S.P. 56
In Senate, January 8, 2025
An Act to Strengthen Local Emergency Medical Services by 
Increasing the MaineCare Reimbursement Rate for Ambulance 
Services
(EMERGENCY)
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on January 6, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator CURRY of Waldo.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, 2 recent blue ribbon commissions to study emergency medical services 
established by Public Law 2021, chapter 749 and Resolve 2023, chapter 98, respectively, 
identified lack of adequate funding as a critical issue facing the emergency medical services 
system in the State; and
Whereas, without increased financial support, emergency medical services providers 
are at risk of closure, leaving areas of the State without adequate access to life-saving 
emergency services; and
Whereas, increasing reimbursement rates under the MaineCare program will provide 
much needed financial relief and will further leverage additional federal funding for 
emergency medical services in the State; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. Ambulance services reimbursement rate.  Notwithstanding the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-JJ or any other provision of law to the contrary, 
beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2028, the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall reimburse for ambulance services under MaineCare at a level that is 140% 
of the average allowable reimbursement rate under Medicare for such services.
Sec. 2. Transfer from Department of Public Safety, Emergency Medical 
Services Stabilization and Sustainability Program, Other Special Revenue 
Funds account; Department of Health and Human Services, Medical Care - 
Payments to Providers. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on or 
before June 30, 2026, the State Controller shall transfer $15,000,000 from the Department 
of Public Safety, Emergency Medical Services Stabilization and Sustainability Program, 
Other Special Revenue Funds account to the Department of Health and Human Services, 
Medical Care - Payments to Providers program, Other Special Revenue Funds account.
Sec. 3.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Medical Care - Payments to Providers 0147
Initiative: Provides one-time allocation for a temporary change to the department's rule 
Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 5, Ambulance Services, so 
that, effective July 1, 2025, MaineCare Ambulance Services codes with Medicare 
equivalents are reimbursed at 140% of the current published Medicare rates. This 
temporary increase ends June 30, 2028.
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$7,300,000
$7,300,000
__________
__________
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL
$7,300,000
$7,300,000
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2025-26
2026-27
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND
$7,300,000
$7,300,000
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$12,300,000
$12,300,000
PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF
EMS Stabilization and Sustainability Program Z382
Initiative: Provides one-time deallocation to the Emergency Medical Services Stabilization 
and Sustainability Program established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 98.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
($15,000,000)
$0
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
($15,000,000)
$0
PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2025-26
2026-27
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
($15,000,000)
$0
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
($15,000,000)
$0
SECTION TOTALS
2025-26
2026-27
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND
$7,300,000
$7,300,000
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
($10,000,000)
$5,000,000
__________
__________
SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
($2,700,000)
$12,300,000
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill increases for 3 years the MaineCare reimbursement rate for ambulance 
services to 140% of the average allowable reimbursement rate under Medicare for such 
services.