AN ACT Relating to ensuring quality ambulance services for medicaid beneficiaries by applying the medicare payment rate for ambulance services furnished under medicaid by providers of ambulance services; adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

(1) Quality ambulance services are essential to ensuring quality of life for Washingtonians.

(2) A recent Washington state health care authority study found that current medicaid reimbursement is between sixteen and twenty-eight percent of what other payers reimburse for equivalent services and is substantially below the level needed to cover the costs of service. The previous study resulting in a fee increase specifically for ambulance services occurred in 2004.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:

Medicaid payment for ambulance services furnished by state licensed ambulance services, must be at a rate not less than one hundred percent of the payment rate that applies to those services and providers under medicare.

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