Medi-Cal reimbursements: ambulance transports.

Assembly Member Michelle Rodriguez's ambulance transport legislation revises Medi-Cal reimbursement rates and documentation requirements to align with federal Medicare standards while modernizing program administration. The bill establishes that Medi-Cal fee-for-service payments for nonemergency and interfacility ambulance transports must match 100% of Medicare ambulance fee schedule rates for the corresponding service level.

The legislation streamlines medical necessity certification by allowing nonphysicians to provide documentation, including electronic signatures, consistent with federal regulations. It also modernizes mileage tracking requirements, permitting providers to use GPS systems, digital mapping software, and other current technologies instead of solely relying on odometer readings.

For emergency transports, the bill maintains the existing quality assurance fee framework while specifying that new interfacility transport rates will not affect fee calculations. The legislation preserves fee computations based on January 2025 methodologies and rates. If federal approval requires modifications, the director must adjust the add-on amount rather than reduce base reimbursement rates for nonemergency or interfacility transports.

The Department of Health Care Services must update relevant manuals and guidance to implement these changes. All provisions require federal approval to maintain Medicaid matching funds, with implementation contingent on securing necessary authorizations without jeopardizing federal financial participation.