97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB1928

 

Introduced 2/10/2011, by Sen. Don Harmon

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
305 ILCS 5/5-4.2  from Ch. 23, par. 5-4.2

    Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section regarding ambulance service payments. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB1928LRB097 08037 KTG 48159 b

1    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
5changing Section 5-4.2 as follows:
 
6    (305 ILCS 5/5-4.2)  (from Ch. 23, par. 5-4.2)
7    Sec. 5-4.2. Ambulance services payments. For ambulance
8services provided to a recipient of aid under this this Article
9on or after January 1, 1993, the Illinois Department shall
10reimburse ambulance service providers at rates calculated in
11accordance with this Section. It is the intent of the General
12Assembly to provide adequate reimbursement for ambulance
13services so as to ensure adequate access to services for
14recipients of aid under this Article and to provide appropriate
15incentives to ambulance service providers to provide services
16in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Thus, it is the
17intent of the General Assembly that the Illinois Department
18implement a reimbursement system for ambulance services that,
19to the extent practicable and subject to the availability of
20funds appropriated by the General Assembly for this purpose, is
21consistent with the payment principles of Medicare. To ensure
22uniformity between the payment principles of Medicare and
23Medicaid, the Illinois Department shall follow, to the extent

 

 

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1necessary and practicable and subject to the availability of
2funds appropriated by the General Assembly for this purpose,
3the statutes, laws, regulations, policies, procedures,
4principles, definitions, guidelines, and manuals used to
5determine the amounts paid to ambulance service providers under
6Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare).
7    For ambulance services provided to a recipient of aid under
8this Article on or after January 1, 1996, the Illinois
9Department shall reimburse ambulance service providers based
10upon the actual distance traveled if a natural disaster,
11weather conditions, road repairs, or traffic congestion
12necessitates the use of a route other than the most direct
13route.
14    For purposes of this Section, "ambulance services"
15includes medical transportation services provided by means of
16an ambulance, medi-car, service car, or taxi.
17    This Section does not prohibit separate billing by
18ambulance service providers for oxygen furnished while
19providing advanced life support services.
20    Beginning with services rendered on or after July 1, 2008,
21all providers of non-emergency medi-car and service car
22transportation must certify that the driver and employee
23attendant, as applicable, have completed a safety program
24approved by the Department to protect both the patient and the
25driver, prior to transporting a patient. The provider must
26maintain this certification in its records. The provider shall

 

 

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1produce such documentation upon demand by the Department or its
2representative. Failure to produce documentation of such
3training shall result in recovery of any payments made by the
4Department for services rendered by a non-certified driver or
5employee attendant. Medi-car and service car providers must
6maintain legible documentation in their records of the driver
7and, as applicable, employee attendant that actually
8transported the patient. Providers must recertify all drivers
9and employee attendants every 3 years.
10    Notwithstanding the requirements above, any public
11transportation provider of medi-car and service car
12transportation that receives federal funding under 49 U.S.C.
135307 and 5311 need not certify its drivers and employee
14attendants under this Section, since safety training is already
15federally mandated.
16(Source: P.A. 95-501, eff. 8-28-07.)
 
17    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
18becoming law.