Amend SB 374 by inserting the following SECTIONS,
appropriately numbered, and renumbering the subsequent SECTIONS of
the bill accordingly:
      SECTION ____.  Section 32.024(t), Human Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
      (t)  The department by rule shall require a physician,
nursing facility, health care provider, or other responsible party
to obtain authorization from the department or a person authorized
to act on behalf of the department before an ambulance is used to
transport a recipient of medical assistance under this chapter in
circumstances not involving an emergency.  The rules must provide
that:
            (1)  except as provided by Subdivision (3), a request
for authorization must be evaluated based on the recipient's
medical needs and may be granted for a length of time appropriate
to the recipient's medical condition;
            (2)  except as provided by Subdivision (3), a response
to a request for authorization must be made not later than 48 hours
after receipt of the request; <and>
            (3)  a request for authorization must be immediately
granted and must be effective for a period of 180 days from the
date of issuance if the request includes a written statement from a
physician that:
                  (A)  states that alternative means of
transporting the recipient are contraindicated; and
                  (B)  is dated not earlier than the 60th day
before the date on which the request for authorization is made; and
            (4)  a person denied payment for services rendered
because of failure to obtain prior authorization or because a
request for prior authorization was denied is entitled to appeal
the denial of payment to the department.
      SECTION ____.  If before implementing any provision of this
Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.