HARRISBURG — Ambulance companies across Pennsylvania would receive a long-awaited increase in Medicaid reimbursements under the proposed 2018-19 budget bill.
Enacted by the House on Wednesday, the bill will head to the Senate where representatives will be eagerly awaiting the resolution.
Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, displayed his pleasure after the House’s approval of the bill.
“This is outstanding news for ambulance companies across the state, and especially for those that serve rural areas like ours that are really struggling financially,” Causer said. “In fact, it’s great news for everyone since we all rely on our emergency responders to answer the call when we need them.”
Under House Bill 2121, an additional $4 million in state funds and approximately $8 million in federal matching funds would support Medicaid reimbursement increases outlined in Causer’s House Bill 699. Reimbursements for Advanced Life Support (ALS) services would increase from $200 to at least $300, and Basic Life Support (BLS) services would increase from $120 to $180. If the Senate and Gov. Tom Wolf pass the proposal, rate increases would take effect on Jan. 1, 2019.
Earlier this month, Causer teamed up with other lawmakers and emergency responders across the state at a Capitol rally, where action was called for to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates, as well as provide reimbursement for treatment provided by emergency responders, even if transport does not take place.
“While we still need to get this bill to the governor’s desk, I am optimistic that our emergency response organizations are finally going to get some much-needed and much-deserved financial relief,” Causer added.
Pending ratification from the Senate and Wolf, the bill would offer the first increase in Medicaid reimbursement for state ambulance companies since 2004. Current rates are over 200 percent below reimbursements from Medicare and commercial insurance, which has increased the struggling for ambulance companies across the state to keep their doors open and their services operating.
While the bill received approval from the House, Causer noted that lawmakers are still hard at work on enacting legislation to require reimbursement for treatment provided — regardless of whether or not transportation takes place.
