AB 511 Summary

• Imposes a quality assurance fee on public and private ambulance transportation services providers participating in Medi-Cal, effective July 1, 2010, calculated as 5.5 percent of projected annual gross receipts divided by projected transports.

• Requires providers to pay the monthly fee to the State Board of Equalization by the last day of the following month, with fees collected and deposited into the newly created Medi-Cal Ambulance Transportation Services Providers Fund.

• Establishes that fund moneys, upon legislative appropriation, are available exclusively to enhance federal financial participation or provide additional reimbursement and quality improvement support to ambulance providers, including advanced life support services.

• Sets Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for ambulance transportation services equal to Medicare rates from August 1, 2010 through July 1, 2016, utilizing applicable Medicare standards and regional modifiers.

• Makes implementation contingent on federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approval and on legislation enacting a rate increase appropriation during the 2009-10 legislative session; chapter becomes inoperative July 1, 2016 unless extended.