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Senate committee approves Medicaid supplemental payment program for public EMS agencies
Summary
House Bill 152 would authorize a Medicaid supplemental directed payment program to increase federal match for public EMS agencies; the committee passed the bill unanimously and sponsors said it will be structured to avoid state general fund impact.
The Senate Standing Committee on Health Services on Oct. 27 unanimously passed House Bill 152, which would authorize a Medicaid supplemental directed payment program to increase federal matching dollars for public emergency medical services agencies that are owned or operated by local governments.
Representative Michael Meredith and Chief Nick Clark of the Kentucky Association of Fire Chiefs told the committee the program would apply to public EMS agencies such as fire departments, city or county EMS operations and local taxing districts. “House Bill 152 will simply create a Medicaid supplemental directed payment program, in our state Medicaid department for public EMS agencies,” Meredith said.
Supporters told the committee the legislation is written to avoid any state general fund impact and to pass through higher federal matching dollars to qualifying public providers. Committee members asked whether local government associations supported the bill; Meredith said the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) and other local associations are supportive.
The committee voted in favor of the bill by voice and roll call; sponsors were congratulated after the unanimous vote. Committee remarks said the program would benefit public EMS providers that are owned or operated by local governments; precise program details and allocations were not specified in committee discussion and would be fleshed out in administrative rule or program design after enactment.
