Senate committee advances bill to centralize Medicaid nonemergency medical transportation, after negotiated TNC amendment

A Colorado Senate Health & Human Services Committee advanced House Bill 13-28 on a 5–1 recorded vote after adopting a negotiated amendment that would permit Transportation Network Companies to participate under rules comparable to other providers.

The bill’s sponsors said the measure establishes a statewide broker model for nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT), codifies credentialing and audit authorities, and aims to curb fraud while preserving access for seniors, people with disabilities and rural residents. The sponsor noted the measure would support a phased, regionally sensitive rollout and prioritize patient choice.

Co-sponsor Senator Kirkland told the committee the bill creates an advisory board representing providers, disability advocates and consumers, and instructs the statewide broker and the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (DHCPF) to develop rules and regulations. “This will help clean them up,” the co-sponsor said, adding the bill would allow the state to reclassify NEMT as a medical service to increase federal drawdown.

Amy Dixon, the department official who oversees NEMT implementation, said DHCPF supports the bill as amended and that the transition to a statewide broker on July 1 requires clear credentialing standards, audit authority and documentation requirements to protect members and program integrity. “The framework in this bill…help[s] support a more accountable, consistent and accessible NEMT program moving forward,” she said.

Several providers and advocacy groups testified in favor. Tyler Borzillari, vice president of MedRide, said reliable transportation is a lifeline, not a convenience, and urged strong implementation and consistent enforcement. Jambo Olehanes, a longtime small‑business NEMT operator, testified that fraud in the past had produced “abnormal billing activity” and argued stronger audits and oversight are needed to protect legitimate providers and taxpayers.

Jasmine Bowen, government partnerships manager at Uber Health, testified in an amend position, saying the bill as drafted would exclude Uber Health. Bowen urged removing a mandatory in‑vehicle video recording requirement and recommended that any “provider of last resort” policy be set by the Medicaid agency rather than fixed in statute, to balance safety and member privacy.

Sponsors described amendment L17 as a negotiated compromise among the department, providers and Transportation Network Companies; the committee adopted L17 by unanimous consent and later voted to refer the bill to the Appropriations Committee with a favorable recommendation.

The committee recorded the referral vote as 5 in favor and 1 opposed. The bill now goes to Appropriations for further consideration.