An Act to Provide Full Reimbursement for Emergency Ambulance
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1429
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: FREDETTE
Amends: 22 MRSA §3174-J, 22 MRSA §3174-P

Legislative Document
No. 1429
H.P. 938
House of Representatives, April 3, 2025
An Act to Provide Full Reimbursement for Emergency Ambulance 
Services Provided to MaineCare Members
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative FREDETTE of Newport.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3174-JJ, as amended by PL 2019, c. 530, Pt. B, §1, is further 
amended to read:
§3174-JJ.  MaineCare reimbursement for ambulance services
The Except as provided in section 3174-PPP, 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 January 1, 2020, 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 and shall reimburse for neonatal 
transport services under MaineCare at the average rate for critical care transport services 
under Medicare.
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §3174-PPP is enacted to read:
§3174-PPP.  Full reimbursement for emergency ambulance services
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A. "Emergency ambulance services" means services provided, in response to an 
emergency call for assistance, by:
(1)  Municipal and quasi-municipal ambulance services; 
(2)  Fire department emergency medical services; and 
(3)  Private ambulance services, as applicable under MaineCare guidelines. 
B.  "Full rate" means the reimbursement rate determined to be usual, customary and 
reasonable by the department and consistent with federal guidelines and applicable 
state law.
2.  Reimbursement requirements.  The department shall reimburse providers of 
emergency ambulance services for MaineCare members at the full rate for services eligible 
under the MaineCare program. 
3.  Funding. The department shall identify and allocate sufficient funding from state 
and federal sources to meet the reimbursement requirements under subsection 2. The 
department shall prioritize the use of available federal matching funds to minimize the 
effect on state resources.
4.  Report. Beginning December 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the department shall 
submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
health and human services matters relating to reimbursement under this section. The report 
must include, but is not limited to:
A. Data on the number of reimbursed emergency ambulance services;
B. The total amount of funds disbursed for reimbursed emergency ambulance services; 
and
C. Recommendations for improving reimbursement policies and ensuring the 
sustainability of emergency ambulance services statewide.
5.  Rulemaking. The department shall adopt rules to implement this section. Rules 
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse providers 
of emergency ambulance services at the full rate for services provided to MaineCare 
members. It applies to municipal, quasi-municipal and private ambulance services and fire 
department emergency medical services. The bill also requires the department to adopt 
rules to implement the reimbursement requirement and to submit an annual report to the 
Legislature.