PRINTER'S NO. 600

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No.

526

Session of

2021

INTRODUCED BY PITTMAN, ARGALL, PHILLIPS-HILL, MARTIN, AUMENT AND

MENSCH, APRIL 14, 2021

REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,

reimbursement to EMS agencies for transportation of Medicaid

recipients and further providing for publication and notice,

for award of grants, for Emergency Medical Services Company

Grant Program, for allocation of appropriated funds; and

making editorial changes.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. The definition of "grant program" in section 7802

of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended

to read:

in Subchapter B (relating to fire company grant program) [or the

Emergency Medical Services Grant Program established in

Subchapter C (relating to emergency medical services grant

program)].

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Section 2. Subchapter C heading of Chapter 78 of Title 35 is

amended to read:

Section 3. Section 7821 of Title 35, amended October 29,

2020 (P.L.739, No.91), is amended to read:

in accordance with section 7821.1 (relating to increased

reimbursement to EMS agencies for transportation of Medicaid

recipients).

Section 4. Title 35 is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 7821.1. Increased reimbursement to EMS agencies for

(a) Amendments to Title XIX State Plan.--

(1) Within 30 days of the effective date of this

section, the Department of Human Services shall submit a

request to the Federal Government for approval of necessary

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of the necessary amendments to the Title XIX State Plan, the

Department of Human Services shall notify the agency.

(b) Distribution of funding.--After receipt of the

notification under subsection (a)(2) and from the funding

sources identified in subsection (c), the agency shall allocate

annually to the Department of Human Services an amount

sufficient for increasing the rate of Medicaid reimbursement to

EMS agencies in the transportation of Medicaid recipients.

(c) Sources of funding.--The sources of funding for the

allocation required under subsection (b) shall consist of the

(relating to allocation of appropriated funds).

(3) The amount transferred under section 2413(a)(1) of

the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax

Reform Code of 1971.

Section 5. Sections 7822, 7823 and 7832 of Title 35, amended

October 29, 2020 (P.L.739, No.91), are repealed:

[§ 7822. Publication and notice.

The commissioner shall publish notice of the grant program

availability through the Legislative Reference Bureau for

publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin by August 8 for each

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(a) Authorization.--The commissioner is authorized to make a

grant award to each eligible EMS company for the following:

(1) Construction and renovation of the EMS company's

facilities and purchase or repair of fixtures, furnishings,

office equipment and support services necessary to maintain

or improve the capability of the services to provide

ambulance, emergency medical, basic life support and advanced

life support services.

(2) Repair of ambulance equipment or purchase thereof.

(3) Debt reduction associated with paragraph (1) or (2).

(b) Limits.--

(1) Grants shall be not less than $2,500 and not more

than $10,000 per EMS company.

(2) Grants may be awarded on a pro rata basis if the

total dollar amount of the approved application exceeds the

amount of funds appropriated by the General Assembly for this

purpose.

(3) If two or more EMS companies consolidated their use

of equipment, personnel and services within 10 years

preceding the date of the current year application submission

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(b.1) Eligibility.--To receive grant funds under this

chapter, an EMS company must be designated by a municipality as

the municipality's primary EMS provider.

(c) Time for filing application and department action.--

(1) By September 8 of each year, the commissioner shall

provide applications and written instructions for grants

under this chapter to the president or lead officer of every

EMS company in this Commonwealth.

(2) EMS companies seeking grants under this chapter

shall submit completed applications to the commissioner. The

approved.

§ 7832. Emergency Medical Services Company Grant Program.

The sum of $3,000,000 of the amount appropriated to the

commissioner for EMS company grants under section 1799-E of the

act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal

Code, shall be expended for the purpose of making grants to

eligible EMS companies under Subchapter C (relating to emergency

medical services grant program).]

Section 6. Section 7833 of Title 35, amended October 29,

2020 (P.L.739, No.91), is amended to read:

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or costs incurred by the commissioner for the administration

of the grant [programs] program authorized under

Subchapter[s] B (relating to fire company grant program) and

of making reimbursements under Subchapter C (relating to

emergency medical services [grant] reimbursement program).

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the commissioner may

use not more than $800,000 of any unencumbered funds

remaining in the fund for administrative costs for grant

program implementation under this chapter.

(b) Grant allocation.--Unless otherwise expressly stated,

used for making [grants] reimbursements to eligible EMS

companies under Subchapter C.

Section 7. The following parts of acts are repealed to the

extent of any inconsistency with this act:

(1) Section 1799-E(a) of the act of April 9, 1929

(P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code.

(2) Section 2413(a)(1) of the act of March 4, 1971

(P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

Section 8. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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