Assembly Bill 199 aims to amend the Medical Assistance program in Wisconsin by adjusting reimbursement rates for non-transport ambulance services and enhancing reporting on the scope of practice for emergency medical responders. Specifically, the bill mandates that starting January 1, 2027, the Department of Health Services (DHS) will increase the reimbursement rate for services coded as A0998 (ambulance response and treatment, no transport) to match the rate for A0429 (ambulance service, basic life support, emergency transport). Additionally, the bill requires the Emergency Medical Services Board to submit an annual report to the legislature on changes to the scope of practice for emergency medical responders and practitioners, in consultation with DHS and the Technical College System Board.

Furthermore, the bill modifies eligibility criteria for the expenditure restraint incentive program by excluding certain expenditures related to joint fire departments or emergency medical services districts from being counted against local levy limits. This change is intended to provide municipalities with more flexibility in managing their budgets while ensuring that essential emergency services are adequately funded. The bill includes specific legal language changes, such as the insertion of provisions regarding the exclusion of certain expenditures from budget calculations and the creation of a new reporting requirement for the Emergency Medical Services Board.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 79.05(2)(c), 79.05