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Committee approves ambulance-provider assessment bill after two amendments; HB56 moves to the floor
Summary
House Bill 56, an ambulance-provider assessment advocated by providers to offset underpayment by government payers, passed the House Health and Human Services Committee 17–4 after two amendments clarifying reporting dates and allowing the Department of Revenue to pay administrative costs from the assessment revenue.
In executive action the House Health and Human Services Committee considered House Bill 56, an ambulance-provider assessment requested by providers to address rising equipment and personnel costs amid low reimbursement rates from government payers. Madam Vice Chair moved the bill 'do pass' and Representative Butchery (Buttry) described the assessment as a voluntary system where providers pay into an assessment that is matched and distributed to providers based on their share of Medicare/Medicaid transports.
The committee adopted two amendments. Amendment HB56.1.1 changed reporting and collection dates — moving the assessment collection window to March through June and extending the date the state special revenue account can be used from June 30 to Sept. 30 — to better align administration. Amendment HB56.1.2 addressed an unexpected change in the fiscal note by authorizing the Department of Revenue (in addition to DPHHS) to deduct administrative costs from the assessment revenues; sponsors said this restored the fiscal note to net zero effect on the general fund.
After discussion the committee took a roll-call vote. The clerk announced 17 yes and 4 no; Chair Marshall declared HB56 passed the committee and that it would move to the floor. The committee recorded proxy and in-person votes as part of the roll call. No floor action was recorded in this transcript excerpt.
