Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts H5038: An Act to improve patient access to non-emergency medical transportation
Status: In committee, July 23, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 5, 2026:
SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following new section:- Section 35. If required by the commission, any prior authorization for nonemergency ambulance and wheelchair van transportation to inpatient and outpatient dialysis treatment, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services, and inpatient and outpatient post-acute care, shall be valid for a minimum of 3 business days. SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following new section:- Section 87. (a) The division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms and third-party administrators under contract to a Medicaid managed care organization or primary care clinician plan shall issue payments to eligible providers, as defined by regulation 101 CMR 327.00, and nonpublic ambulance service providers, as defined by regulation 101 CMR 327.00, in an amount no less than 2 and one half times the determined rates for authorized ambulance and wheelchair van services for: ambulance service, advanced life support, nonemergency transport (101 CMR 327.00 Code A0426); ambulance service, basic life support, nonemergency transport (101 CMR 327.00 Code A0428); nonemergency wheelchair van transportation (101 CMR 327.00 Code A0130); nonemergency wheelchair transportation with loaded mileage (101 CMR 327.00 Code S0215) and; nonemergency wheelchair transportation with patient attendant or escort (101 CMR 327.00 Code T2001) when …
Sponsors
- Services, Joint Committee on Financial (I) · primary sponsor
- Daniel Hunt (D, 13th Suffolk)
- Chynah Tyler (D)
Latest actions
- : Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
- : Reporting date extended to Thursday, December 31, 2026
- : Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
- : New draft of H1198
- : Reported from the committee on Financial Services
Votes
- Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Health Care Financing (July 16, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Financial Services (January 23, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is H5038?
- H5038 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act to improve patient access to non-emergency medical transportation.
- What is the status of H5038?
- In committee as of July 23, 2026. Latest action: Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means (July 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored H5038?
- Services, Joint Committee on Financial (I), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H5038?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5038
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.