Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate of $200 for basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Carol Murphy

Establishes a statutory minimum Medicaid reimbursement of $200 per basic life support ambulance transport in New Jersey, with immediate effect.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee

Summary of Bill A 4600 (Session 222) – New Jersey

Purpose and intent

Establishes a statutory minimum reimbursement rate of $200 for basic life support (BLS) emergency ambulance transportation services within New Jersey’s Medicaid program.

The bill codifies the existing reimbursement level as a statutory floor to ensure ongoing financial support for emergency ambulance providers that serve individuals with urgent and life-threatening health conditions.

Key provisions

Minimum rate set: The Medicaid reimbursement rate for BLS emergency ambulance transports shall be no less than $200 per transport, regardless of whether services are billed through the Medicaid fee-for-service system or a managed care delivery system. (Section 1)

Rulemaking authority: The Commissioner of Human Services must adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement the act, under the Administrative Procedure Act. (Section 2)

Federal financing and waivers: The Commissioner must seek any required State plan amendments or waivers to implement the act and to secure federal financial participation for state Medicaid expenditures. (Section 3)

Effective date: The act takes effect immediately upon enactment. (Section 4)

Affected parties and scope

Directly affected: Medicaid-eligible individuals receiving basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services.

Providers: Emergency ambulance transport providers operating under Medicaid fee-for-service or managed care arrangements, who would receive at least the $200 per transport reimbursement.

State administration: New Jersey Department of Human Services (or its successor agencies) responsible for rulemaking and securing federal waivers/plans.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and referral: Introduced March 10, 2026; referred to the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee.

Rulemaking timeline: Requires administrative rulemaking to implement the new minimum rate (Section 2).

Federal planning: Requires submission of State plan amendments or waivers to obtain federal participation (Section 3).

Immediate effect: The act is designed to take effect upon enactment (Section 4).

Potential impact and considerations

Provider stability: By codifying a $200 minimum, the bill aims to ensure predictable reimbursement for BLS emergency ambulance providers, which may support continued service availability and financial viability.

Cost implications: Establishing a statutory floor could affect state Medicaid expenditures and reimbursement negotiations with managed care plans; the state would pursue federal matching funds where applicable.

Operational impact: Hospitals and EMS organizations may adjust budgeting, staffing, and service capacity planning in response to the clarified minimum rate.

Policy alignment: Aligns Medicaid policy with the stated rate existing in practice, reducing the risk of downward pressure on reimbursement for BLS ambulance services.

Summary

Bill A 4600 amends New Jersey Medicaid policy to guarantee a minimum reimbursement of $200 per basic life support emergency ambulance transport, applies to both fee-for-service and managed care arrangements, and directs the Commissioner of Human Services to implement necessary rulemaking and pursue federal authorizations to support funding. The measure takes effect immediately upon enactment.