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Effective: December 1, 2006 |
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28.05.05ar1 - Access Services - Transportation Costs |
Archived: January 1, 2007 |
Access service plans must cover the cost of transportation to help enrollees obtain medically necessary health care. Enrollees must use the most cost-effective available means of transportation.
Reimbursable Transportation Costs.
Non-Reimbursable Transportation Costs.
Reimbursable Transportation Costs
Access service plans must cover:
l Mileage reimbursement for vehicle use of 20 cents per mile to enrollees who transport themselves, or for those with a vested interest (e.g., friend, neighbor, relative, etc.).
l Mileage reimbursement at the current IRS rate to volunteer drivers registered with the county who use their vehicles to transport enrollees.
n Effective January 1, 2006, the IRS rate is 44.5 cents per mile.
n For 2005, the rate for January through August was 40.5 cents per mile, and for September through December, 48.5 cents per mile.
l Actual cost of parking.
l Actual cost of taxicab, bus or other commercial carrier when this is the most cost-effective means available.
l Ambulance transportation from a non-enrolled provider when the ambulance is medically necessary. Ambulance providers who are enrolled as Minnesota Health Care Programs providers will bill DHS directly for the services.
Note: Access plans must specify whether reimbursement is available for ”r;no-load” transportation. No-load transportation means mileage was incurred when the enrollee was not in the vehicle, such as the distance traveled to pick up enrollees.
Non-Reimbursable Transportation Costs
Do not allow the following transportation costs in access plans:
l Special transportation. Special transportation providers are reimbursed directly by DHS, as they are enrolled as Minnesota Health Care Program providers, or through the transportation coordinator in the metro area.
Note: Special transportation is not reimbursed if the cost is included in a per diem payment to an Intermediate Care Facility for People with Mental Retardation or Related Conditions (ICF/MR).
l Transportation to a health care site for detention ordered by a court or law enforcement agency.
Exception: Allow the cost for an ambulance if it is medically necessary.
l Transportation to an alcohol detoxification facility.
Exception: Allow the transportation cost if detoxification is medically necessary.
l Additional charges for luggage, stair carry of the enrollee, airport surcharge or other airport, bus or railroad terminal services.
l Federal or state sales or excise taxes on ambulance service.
l Transportation to services that are not covered under Minnesota Health Care Programs.
n The service does not have to be billed to DHS or obtained from an enrolled provider. However, both the service and the provider must be eligible for enrollment and coverage under Minnesota Health Care Programs.
n Consult the MHCP Provider Manual or the Provider Call Center at 1-800-366-5411 for more information on services allowed and provider enrollment under Minnesota Health Care Programs.
Example:
Jordan is enrolled in MA and receives psychotherapy at the VA hospital. The service is not billed to MA because the VA has separate funding. The psychotherapist and the service provided meet the requirements for enrollment and reimbursement in Minnesota Health Care Programs.
Action:
Reimburse Jordan’s transportation costs if they meet the requirements of the local agency’s access plan.
For eligibility, prior authorization and other guidelines, see Eligibility Requirements.