SB649 Summary

• Imposes an annual assessment on medical transportation providers (ambulance and air ambulance services) calculated as a percentage of net operating revenue to fund emergency medical transportation access payments.

• Assessment rate determined annually to generate funds up to the nonfederal portion of the "upper payment limit gap" plus 3.75% annual administrative fee, but cannot exceed indirect guarantee thresholds under federal regulations.

• Exempts volunteer ambulance services, state/county/political subdivision ambulances, nonemergency ambulances, air ambulance services, and specialty hospital-based ambulances from the assessment.

• Quarterly assessment payments due 10 business days after providers receive emergency medical transportation access payments, with 5% penalties for late payment plus additional 5% penalties for continued delinquency.

• Creates Medical Transportation Assessment Account within Arkansas Medicaid Program Trust Fund to deposit all assessed fees and distribute emergency medical transportation access payments to eligible providers on quarterly basis.