On June 30, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies added strong report language to the FY23 L,HHS bill, requested by Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Buddy Carter (R-GA), urging CMS to delay further implementation of the Prior Authorization of Repetitive, Scheduled Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport (RSNAT) model. The RSNAT model denies ambulance transportation to Medicare dialysis and diabetes wound care patients without appropriate, alternative transportation.
Similar language was included in the FY22 omnibus appropriations bill in March 2022, but CMS has not changed its policies. The report language was strengthened to “strongly urge” CMS to delay the model as well as to require the development of a plan within 90 days to provide alternative transportation to low-income, full and partial dual eligibles.
Below is the final report language adopted by the committee:
Report Language:
Transportation for Dialysis.—The Committee continues to strongly urge CMS to delay further implementation of the Prior Authorization of Repetitive, Scheduled Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport model until it ensures appropriate alternative transportation to dialysis services and diabetes-related wound care for low-income beneficiaries who have no other means of transportation. The Committee further requests a plan within 90 days of the date of enactment of this Act to provide alternative transportation to the low-income Medicare-Medicaid full and partial dual eligibles who have no alternative transportation to dialysis and diabetes wound care services.