(1) On or before January 1, 2019, the state department shall create and implement an efficient and cost-effective method for meeting urgent transportation needs within the existing nonemergency medical transportation benefit under the medical assistance program. Urgent transportation needs include discharge from inpatient, emergency services, and other urgent but nonemergency services, as determined by the state department.
(2) The method created by the state department must include, at a minimum:
Medical service provider or facility access to approved transportation providers forpatients with urgent transportation needs;
Access to transportation providers that have obtained the necessary background checks, drug tests, training, and vehicle inspections, as required by the state department; and
An efficient method for obtaining and paying for transportation services for urgenttransportation needs.
The state department may contract for background checks, drug tests, training, andvehicle inspections that may be required pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.
(a) The state department shall annually report on the implementation and effectiveness of the process created in this section for meeting urgent transportation needs within the nonemergency medical transportation benefit. The state department shall present the report as part of its annual presentation to the health and human services committee of the senate and the public health and human services committee of the house of representatives, or any successor committees, as required pursuant to section 2-7-203.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I) to the contrary, thereport required pursuant to this section shall continue until the beginning of the 2025 legislative session.
This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2025.
Source: L. 2018: Entire section added, (HB 18-1321), ch. 346, p. 2064, § 1, effective May 30. L. 2019: (4)(a) amended, (SB 19-252), ch. 254, p. 2452, § 5, effective August 2.