STATE OPTION TO ESTABLISH NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.

SEC. 6083. STATE OPTION TO ESTABLISH NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.(a) In General.—Section 1902(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)), as amended by sections 6033(a) and 6035(b), is amended—(1) in paragraph (68), by striking “and” at the end;(2) in paragraph (69) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and(3) by inserting after paragraph (69) the following:“(70) at the option of the State and notwithstanding paragraphs (1), (10)(B), and (23), provide for the establishment of a non-emergency medical transportation brokerage program in order to more cost-effectively provide transportation for individuals eligible for medical assistance under the State plan who need access to medical care or services and have no other means of transportation which—“(A) may include a wheelchair van, taxi, stretcher car, bus passes and tickets, secured transportation, and such other transportation as the Secretary determines appropriate; and“(B) may be conducted under contract with a broker who—“(i) is selected through a competitive bidding process based on the State’s evaluation of the broker’s experience, performance, references, resources, qualifications, and costs;“(ii) has oversight procedures to monitor beneficiary access and complaints and ensure that transport personnel are licensed, qualified, competent, and courteous;“(iii) is subject to regular auditing and oversight by the State in order to ensure the quality of the transportation services provided and the adequacy of beneficiary access to medical care and services; and“(iv) complies with such requirements related to prohibitions on referrals and conflict of interest as the Secretary shall establish (based on the prohibitions 120 STAT. 121 on physician referrals under section 1877 and such other prohibitions and requirements as the Secretary determines to be appropriate).”.(b) Effective Date.—The amendments made by subsection (a) take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.