The bill amends several sections of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) to align the quality assurance fee for the ambulance transport fund with federal regulations. Key changes include the adjustment of reimbursement rates for emergency ambulance transports, which will now be calculated annually based on the available fee amount and the number of transports. The authority is tasked with determining the fee-for-service add-on, which will be added to the Medicaid fee-for-service payment schedule. Additionally, the bill specifies that the quality assurance fee will be assessed quarterly based on the number of emergency transports and will be calculated using a new formula that considers the projected aggregate fee schedule amount and the state medical assistance percentage.

Furthermore, the bill introduces provisions for adjusting the quality assurance fee rate if the actual or projected available fee amount deviates significantly from the aggregate fee schedule amount. It also outlines the responsibilities of ambulance transport providers regarding fee payments, including penalties for late payments and the authority's ability to waive fees under certain circumstances. The definitions section has been updated to clarify terms related to the quality assurance fee program, including the calculation of the annual quality assurance fee rate and the definition of emergency ambulance transport. Overall, these amendments aim to ensure that the funding for emergency ambulance services remains stable and compliant with federal guidelines.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 74.70.060, 74.70.050, 74.70.020