An Act To Adequately Pay for Emergency Medical Services

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3174-JJ,  as amended by PL 2013, c. 441, §1, is further amended to read:

§ 3174-JJ. MaineCare reimbursement for ambulance and community paramedicine services

The department shall reimburse for ambulance services and community paramedicine services that do not involve transporting patients 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 and, beginning March 1, 2018, community paramedicine services that do not involve transporting patients under MaineCare at a level that is not less than 65% of the average allowable reimbursement rate under Medicare for such services.

Sec. 2. Reimbursement for community paramedicine services. The Department of Health and Human Services shall work with emergency medical services providers in the State to define community paramedicine services that do not involve transporting patients and to provide reimbursement for those services under MaineCare pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-JJ.

summary

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to work with emergency medical services providers in the State to define, and provide reimbursement under MaineCare for, community paramedicine services that do not involve transporting patients.