Senate Bill 138, also known as House Bill 150, amends Tennessee Code Annotated to enhance reimbursement rates for air ambulance services under the TennCare program. The bill introduces a new subsection (b) to Section 71-5-165, which mandates that the bureau of TennCare reimburse public or private air ambulance services that operate within the state at a minimum rate of 67.5% of the federal Medicare program's allowable charge for participating providers. This change aims to ensure that air ambulance services are fairly compensated for providing emergency and nonemergency transport to TennCare recipients.

The act is set to take effect upon becoming law and will apply to reimbursements for transports that occur on or after the effective date. This legislative change reflects a commitment to improving access to necessary medical transportation services for TennCare recipients, thereby enhancing the overall healthcare delivery system in Tennessee.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 71-5-165