The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5356, aims to enhance access to nonemergency medical transportation for Medicaid recipients by implementing a competitive bidding process for transportation services in specific geographic areas identified by the Commissioner of Social Services. The bill stipulates that transportation providers awarded contracts must meet state licensure or certification requirements, although contractors solely coordinating transportation services are exempt from these requirements. Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions that limit the initial contracts to one year, allow certain drivers to operate under specific conditions without meeting licensure requirements for a limited time, and mandates an annual review of reimbursement rates to ensure they are sufficient to maintain an adequate pool of drivers.

Key changes in the bill include the repeal of the existing subsection (a) of section 17b-276 and its replacement with new language that emphasizes cost-effectiveness and the need for adequate transportation services for Medicaid recipients. The bill also allows the Commissioner of Social Services to operate pilot programs before statewide implementation and requires contractors to disclose payment sources to subcontracted transportation providers. Overall, the legislation seeks to reduce regulatory burdens on providers while ensuring that Medicaid recipients have reliable access to necessary transportation services.