PUBLIC NOTICE: Public Comment Period for State Plan Amendment (SPA) IA-21-0021: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Network Provider Requirements

Pursuant to the authority of Iowa Code Section 249A.4, the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) has proposed changes to the state plan under Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) Attachment 3.1-D and Supplement 2 to Attachment 3.1-A regarding Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT).

The State of Iowa’s Medicaid program currently provides non-emergency medical transportation through a broker. The proposed changes are in response to provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which added new requirements for a state’s Medicaid transportation program. The proposed changes in this SPA are summarized below:

This SPA is intended to adopt the following transportation provider network requirements:

All Transportation Network providers (excluding Public Transit Authorities):

1. Must assure that the transportation network provider and individual drivers are not excluded from participation in any federal health care program (as defined in section 1128B(f) of the Act) and is not listed on the exclusion list of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services. 
2. Must assure that each such individual driver has a valid driver’s license. 
3. Must have in place a process to address any violation of a state drug law. 
4. Must have in place a process to disclose to the state Medicaid program the driving history, including any traffic violations, of each such individual driver employed by such provider, including any traffic violations.

This SPA also amends the description of how transportation is provided in Attachment 3.1-D Methods of Providing Transportation to reflect the services received through the NEMT brokerage. 

There is no anticipated fiscal impact.
 

PUBLIC NOTICE: PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR NEMT NETWORK PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS

WRITTEN NOTICE MAY BE ADDRESSED TO:

Jason Watson, LTSS Policy Specialist
Iowa Medicaid Enterprise
1305 E. Walnut Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0114

Comments may also be sent via electronic mail to jwatson2@dhs.state.ia.us.

ALL COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 4:30 PM ON NOVEMBER 29, 2021.