SB 429, An Act Concerning Medicaid Reimbursement For Emergency Medical Transportation

TESTIMONY OF THE CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
SUBMITTED TO THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony concerning SB 429, An Act Concerning Medicaid Reimbursement For Emergency Medical Transportation.  CHA supports the bill.

Connecticut hospitals make our state stronger by delivering nationally recognized, world-class care, supporting jobs and economic growth, and serving communities across Connecticut.  Every day, hospitals improve access, affordability, and health equity — providing care to all patients regardless of ability to pay.  At the same time, hospitals invest in their workforce and local communities, even as they navigate significant financial and federal challenges.

SB 429 proposes to increase Medicaid reimbursement for ambulance services by updating payment methodology for out-of-district mileage calculation.  SB 429 proposes that the payment methodology be based on the actual distance traveled by an ambulance with the patient onboard from the point of patient pickup to destination, rounded to the nearest tenth of a mile.  This change would make operational modifications to align billing practices across payer types.

Emergency medical services (EMS) are a crucial part of Connecticut’s healthcare safety net and investing in the EMS system is critically important.  In February 2023, pursuant to provisions of Public Act 22-118, CHA was a member of the EMS Legislative Working Group that made a report to the commissioners of public health and social services identifying the needs and challenges of the EMS system and provided recommendations.  That report underscored that Medicaid reimbursement rates are the primary source of income for EMS organizations.  The support of the legislature is necessary to ensure the EMS system can thrive now and in future — and increases to Medicaid funding are essential.  In 2024, CHA was pleased to see the legislature beginning the process of strengthening support by increasing the Medicaid mileage and base rates for ambulance services. Should SB 429 pass, it would be another incremental step in improving billing practices for ambulance services.

As this important work moves forward, CHA would like to reemphasize the working group’s recommendation concerning Medicaid reimbursement, which calls for state Medicaid rates to be equal to Medicare rates as applied in Connecticut and adjusted annually based on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Ambulance Inflation Factor.  If that adjustment were to be achieved, it would go a long way to alleviating some of the financial stress on Connecticut’s EMS system and providing much needed relief to these organizations that deliver reliable life-saving services to Connecticut residents.

Thank you for your consideration of our position.  For additional information, contact CHA Government Relations at (203) 294-7301.