By Haggerty H.B. No. 897 76R3062 KLA-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to medical assistance payments for ambulance services. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Section 32.043, Human Resources Code, as added by 1-5 Chapter 1153, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, 1-6 is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: 1-7 (c) For an ambulance service provided to an individual who 1-8 is eligible under the medical assistance program and Medicare, the 1-9 medical assistance program shall pay the difference between: 1-10 (1) the customary rate that prevails in the community 1-11 for the service provided; and 1-12 (2) the maximum Medicare allowable charge for the 1-13 service provided. 1-14 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and 1-15 applies only to a medical assistance payment for ambulance services 1-16 that are provided on or after the effective date of this Act. 1-17 SECTION 3. If before implementing Section 32.043(c), Human 1-18 Resources Code, as added by this Act, the Health and Human Services 1-19 Commission determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal 1-20 agency is necessary for implementation, the commission shall 1-21 request the waiver or authorization and may authorize a delay in 1-22 implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is 1-23 granted. 1-24 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-1 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-2 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-3 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-4 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.