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79R2253 KEG-D

By:  Chavez                                                       H.B. No. 445



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 32.0451 to read as follows:
	Sec. 32.0451.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES. The 
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission 
shall set the reimbursement rate for a provider of an ambulance 
service at a rate equal to the reimbursement rate for the same 
service under the Medicare fee schedule.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  The executive commissioner of the Health 
and Human Services Commission shall as soon as practicable after 
the effective date of this Act determine the revised reimbursement 
rates required under Section 32.0451, 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, 2006.
	(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, 2005.