UT HB0417

Health care facilities must allow patients to use non-medical transportation (such as family members or public transit) for transfers between facilities when the patient's condition does not require ambulance transport and they are not under involuntary commitment

Patients using non-medical transport must arrive within "adequate time" — 4 hours for rural counties (fourth, fifth, or sixth class) or 2 hours for other counties — to preserve their bed assignment and avoid additional admission charges

Facilities must provide written notice to eligible patients stating their condition does not meet medical necessity for ambulance transport, that insurance may not cover ambulance costs, and the current ambulance rates

Originating facilities and health care providers receive civil liability immunity when allowing patients to use non-medical transportation, provided the patient's condition did not require ambulance transport at discharge

Effective May 6, 2026