Substitute House Bill No. 5356 aims to enhance nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT) services for medical assistance recipients in Connecticut. The bill mandates the Commissioner of Social Services to identify geographic areas where competitive bidding for NEMT services can yield cost savings. It introduces new provisions that allow certain drivers, who have applied for a public passenger endorsement to operate taxicab or livery vehicles, to provide NEMT services under a Department of Social Services (DSS) contract for up to 90 days while their application is pending. Additionally, the bill stipulates that any contractor awarded a contract for coordinating NEMT services must disclose the source of payment to subcontracted transportation providers.

The bill also requires the DSS commissioner to conduct an annual review of Medicaid rates for NEMT to ensure they are adequate for maintaining a sufficient pool of drivers and that these rates are included in each contract. The existing law is amended to clarify that contractors awarded contracts for coordinating NEMT services are not required to meet state licensure or certification requirements, provided they are coordinating services rather than directly providing them. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2026.