What's happening
This bill requires that emergency and non-emergency medical transportation for Medicaid recipients be provided directly by the transportation provider, not subcontracted, except for municipal fire departments.
Why it matters
Reduces outsourcing in Medicaid transportation. By requiring that transportation providers directly own or lease the vehicles used for Medicaid emergency and non-emergency transport (with rare exceptions), this bill prevents the common practice of subcontracting rides, which can sometimes lead to accountability gaps or inconsistent service quality.
Potentially improves service reliability and oversight. Direct provision of transportation by the contracted provider allows for stricter enforcement of safety, maintenance, and operational standards, since the entity billing Medicaid is also responsible for the actual vehicles and drivers.
Limits flexibility for transportation providers. Companies that previously relied on subcontracting may face new costs and logistical challenges, potentially affecting the speed of scaling up or down to meet fluctuating demand—this could impact wait times or availability, especially in rural or under-served areas.
Exempts municipal fire departments. The carve-out for municipal fire departments recognizes their unique public safety role and operational structure, ensuring they can continue to provide or coordinate emergency transport without being hampered by the new direct ownership/lease requirement.
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Who cares
Medicaid transportation providers
The bill would require providers to use vehicles they directly own or lease and, except for municipal fire departments, prohibit assigning, delegating or subcontracting trips to third parties.
Municipal fire departments
They would be exempt from the ban on assigning, delegating or subcontracting Medicaid transportation, but subject to the vehicle ownership or leasing requirement.
Medicaid recipients
The bill would set vehicle and provider requirements for both emergency transportation to hospitals and non-emergency transportation for necessary medical care or services.
State Department of Health
The bill would require vehicles used for Medicaid transportation to be maintained and inspected under rules issued by the health commissioner.
Headline styles
Tighten Medical Transport Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Print number 8472a
- Amend and recommit to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Regulate Medicaid Medical Transport
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Diane J. Savino
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8472--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 16, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to emergency and non-emergency transportation of medical assistance recipients
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 3005-c to read as follows:
§ 3005-c. Emergency and non-emergency transportation of medical assistance recipients. 1. For purposes of this section the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Emergency medical transportation" shall mean transportation for the purpose of obtaining hospital services for a medical assistance recipient who suffers from severe, life-threatening or potentially disabling conditions which requires emergency medical services, as defined in subdivision one of section three thousand one of this article, while the recipient is being transported.
(b) "Non-emergency medical transportation" shall mean transportation for the purpose of obtaining necessary medical care or services to a medical assistance recipient.
2. Any emergency medical transportation or non-emergency medical transportation of a medical assistance recipient shall be provided by an individual, partnership, association, corporation, municipality or any legal public entity or subdivision thereof by means of transportation vehicles that are directly owned or leased by said individual, partnership, association, corporation, municipality or any legal public entity or subdivision thereof. With the exception of municipal fire departments, such transportation may not be assigned, delegated, or subcontracted to third parties. Such vehicles shall be maintained and inspected in accordance with rules promulgated by the commissioner.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13029-06-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.