HB4878 Summary

• Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage of emergency medical transportation services under Medicaid when services are dispatched and the patient is treated but not transferred to a hospital, at a rate not less than 50% of the base rate in effect as of June 30, 2024, subject to federal approval.

• Increases the base rate of reimbursement for ground ambulance service providers not participating in the Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) Program to not lower than 140% of the base rate in effect as of January 1, 2023, for services provided January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026.

• Increases the base rate of reimbursement for air ambulance medical transportation services beginning January 1, 2024.

• Requires the Department to engage stakeholders to develop recommendations for a plan to regularly collect cost data from all ground ambulance transportation providers reimbursed under Illinois Medicaid, with recommendations due by April 1, 2024.