78R356 SGA-D

By:  Chavez                                                       H.B. No. 112



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to reimbursement rates for ambulance services under the 
medical assistance program.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, 
is amended by adding Section 32.0453 to read as follows:
	Sec. 32.0453.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES. The 
department shall set the reimbursement rate for a provider of an 
ambulance service at a rate equal to 80 percent of the reimbursement 
rate for the same service under the Medicare fee schedule.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  The Texas Department of Human Services 
shall as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act 
determine the revised reimbursement rates required under Section 
32.0453, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, and, except as 
provided by Subsection (b) of this section, implement the new rates 
no later than January 1, 2004.
	(b)  If before implementing a 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.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.