CHAPTER 102

An Act concerning nonemergency health care transportation provided under the Medicaid program and amending and supplementing P.L.1981, c.134.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Section 1 of P.L.1981, c.134 (C.30:4D-6.2) is amended to read as follows:

C.30:4D-6.2 Definitions.

    1. For the purposes of this act:

    a. "Certified trained personnel" means that the one or more individuals directly providing mobility assistance vehicle services shall possess and carry upon his person a current certificate of completion of an advanced medical training course, as determined by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services.

    b. "Division" means the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services.

    c. "Mobility assistance vehicle service" means the provision of nonemergency health care transportation, supervised by certified trained personnel, for sick, infirm or otherwise disabled Medicaid recipients who are under the care and supervision of a physician and whose medical condition is not of sufficient magnitude or gravity to require transportation by ambulance, but does require transportation from place to place for medical care and whose use of an alternate form of transportation, such as taxicab, bus, other public conveyance or private vehicle might create a serious risk to life and health.

    d. "Medicaid recipient" means any person who is determined to be eligible to receive mobility assistance vehicle services as provided under this act and meets the eligibility requirements pursuant to the "New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Act," P.L.1968, c. 413.

    e. "Provider" means any person, public or private institution, agency or business concern lawfully providing mobility assistance vehicle services authorized under this act.

    2. Section 2 of P.L.1981, c.134 (C.30:4D-6.3) is amended to read as follows:

C.30:4D-6.3 Provider of mobility assistance vehicle services; conditions for approval for reimbursement.

    2.    No provider of mobility assistance vehicle services shall be approved for reimbursement by the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services for services rendered to Medicaid recipients unless such provider meets all the standards and requirements issued pursuant to section 3 and section 5 of this act.

    3. Section 3 of P.L.1981, c.134 (C.30:4D-6.4) is amended to read as follows:

C.30:4D-6.4 Minimum requirement, liability insurance, personnel; rules, regulations.

    3. After consulting with the Commissioner of Human Services, the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services is authorized and empowered to issue and enforce, or cause to be issued and enforced through the division, all necessary rules, regulations and administrative orders with respect to:

    a. The development of minimum requirements concerning the equipment, supplies and vehicles of providers of mobility assistance vehicle services;

    b. The establishment of standards for the amount of liability insurance each provider must maintain in order to be eligible to provide mobility assistance vehicle services. Evidence of such insurance, including the name of the insurer and the policy number, shall be filed at the time of application for approval by the division and from time to time as the division shall deem necessary; and

    c. The establishment of standards for certified trained personnel employed by providers of mobility assistance vehicle services.

C.30:4D-3a "Invalid coach service" deemed to mean "mobility assistance vehicle service."

    4. Whenever the term "invalid coach service" occurs or any reference is made thereto in any law, contract or document which pertains to the Medicaid program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.), the same shall be deemed to mean or refer to "mobility assistance vehicle service."

    5. This act shall take effect immediately.

    Approved May 19, 1997.