Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes an advisory board to promulgate regulations for non-emergency medical transportation in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Defines “non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT)” as transportation to or from medically necessary nonemergency treatment (Sec. 1).

• Defines “transportation provider,” for the purposes of this Act, as an entity that provides or facilitates transportation services for Medicaid members (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the Transportation Community Advisory Board, which is composed of representatives of various NEMT stakeholders, including Medicaid members, transportation providers, health-care treatment providers, and disability advocates (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to collaborate with the Board to establish rules and processes for the safety and oversight of NEMT services (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Board to provide recommendations to the Department about rules, processes and policies that govern NEMT (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Department, in collaboration with the Board, to adopt rules that do the following (Sec. 2):

• Establish driver, vehicle, and transportation provider credentialing requirements;

• Prohibit trip caps, market-share restrictions, or other policies that limit transportation provider participation in the market, unless as part of a corrective action plan;

• Create a process for Medicaid members and transportation providers to file concerns with the Department;

• Require transportation providers to accommodate requests for preferred or alternate drivers when feasible;

• Establish policies regarding video recordings made during NEMT trips;

• Develop billing procedures;

• Require the use of software that records pick up and drop off addresses, coordinates, and times; and

• Establish that Medicaid members have a right to receive NEMT services that are accessible and appropriate to their needs.

• Authorizes the Department to contract with a transportation broker (Sec. 3).

• Requires transportation brokers to provide all transportation providers with software, training, and technical assistance to facilitate NEMT services (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes brokers to require Medicaid members to book transportation services more than two days in advance (Sec. 3).

• Requires brokers or transportation providers to verify that individuals are eligible Medicaid members during the scheduling of services (Sec. 4).

• Requires Medicaid to cover NEMT services, and requires the Department to classify NEMT services as medical services (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect July 1, 2026 (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes an advisory board to promulgate regulations for non-emergency medical transportation in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Defines “non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT)” as transportation to or from medically necessary nonemergency treatment (Sec. 1).

• Defines “transportation provider,” for the purposes of this Act, as an entity that provides or facilitates transportation services for Medicaid members (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the Transportation Community Advisory Board, which is composed of representatives of various NEMT stakeholders, including Medicaid members, transportation providers, health-care treatment providers, and disability advocates (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to collaborate with the Board to establish rules and processes for the safety and oversight of NEMT services (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Board to provide recommendations to the Department about rules, processes and policies that govern NEMT (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Department, in collaboration with the Board, to adopt rules that do the following (Sec. 2):

• Establish driver, vehicle, and transportation provider credentialing requirements;

• Prohibit trip caps, market-share restrictions, or other policies that limit transportation provider participation in the market, unless as part of a corrective action plan;

• Create a process for Medicaid members and transportation providers to file concerns with the Department;

• Require transportation providers to accommodate requests for preferred or alternate drivers when feasible;

• Establish policies regarding video recordings made during NEMT trips;

• Develop billing procedures;

• Require the use of software that records pick up and drop off addresses, coordinates, and times; and

• Establish that Medicaid members have a right to receive NEMT services that are accessible and appropriate to their needs.

• Authorizes the Department to contract with a transportation broker (Sec. 3).

• Requires transportation brokers to provide all transportation providers with software, training, and technical assistance to facilitate NEMT services (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes brokers to require Medicaid members to book transportation services more than two days in advance (Sec. 3).

• Requires brokers or transportation providers to verify that individuals are eligible Medicaid members during the scheduling of services (Sec. 4).

• Requires Medicaid to cover NEMT services, and requires the Department to classify NEMT services as medical services (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect July 1, 2026 (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text