The Medical Transportation Access Coalition (MTAC) applauds the House of Representatives for the passing of legislation that would codify the Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) benefit into law.
H.R. 3935, the Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act, is a bipartisan piece of legislation introduced by lead sponsors Congressman Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Congressman Tony Cardenas (D-CA) and original co-sponsors Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Congressman Tom Graves (R-GA) that seeks to strengthen Medicaid beneficiary access to transportation to non-emergency health appointments such as dialysis treatments, mental and behavioral healthcare, and substance use disorder (SUD). The legislation recognizes what has been longstanding policy and includes safeguards for providers and drivers as part of a state’s NEMT program to receive federal support. The Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act will help guarantee NEMT services are provided only to those beneficiaries with true needs and that the benefit is efficiently managed.
The Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act will now move to the Senate, where companion legislation has also been introduced. Again, we thank members of the House of Representatives and our NEMT champions for their tremendous efforts and look forward to advancing this vital legislation to ensure access to treatment to vulnerable populations through the Senate and ultimately seeing it signed into law.