House Passes Bill to Maintain NEMT Benefit
The House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass H.R.3935, the Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act, on September 21. Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Tom Graves (R-GA), and Sanford Bishop of (D-GA) introduced the bill in July 2019.
The bipartisan legislation would amend the Medicaid statute to include non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) in the list of mandatory Medicaid benefits by codifying current Medicaid NEMT regulations. The bill would also require state Medicaid programs to have a utilization management process in place for the benefit.
Medicaid's NEMT benefit provides rides for patients to see their health providers if they cannot access other travel options. The legislation is now eligible to be considered by the Senate, where companion legislation (S.2846) is been pending.
Impact on General Dentistry: AGD supports efforts to preserve the NEMT benefit, such as the Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act. NEMT can be a crucial factor in getting children in to see the dentists and access oral health care services under Medicaid.
The bipartisan legislation would amend the Medicaid statute to include non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) in the list of mandatory Medicaid benefits by codifying current Medicaid NEMT regulations. The bill would also require state Medicaid programs to have a utilization management process in place for the benefit.
Medicaid's NEMT benefit provides rides for patients to see their health providers if they cannot access other travel options. The legislation is now eligible to be considered by the Senate, where companion legislation (S.2846) is been pending.
Impact on General Dentistry: AGD supports efforts to preserve the NEMT benefit, such as the Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act. NEMT can be a crucial factor in getting children in to see the dentists and access oral health care services under Medicaid.