Sec. 531.02414. NONEMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES UNDER MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. (a) In this section:

(1) "Medical transportation program" means the program that provides nonemergency transportation services to recipients under Medicaid, subject to Subsection (a-1), the children with special health care needs program, and the transportation for indigent cancer patients program, who have no other means of transportation.

(1-a) "Nonemergency transportation service" means nonemergency medical transportation services authorized under:

(A) for a Medicaid recipient, the state Medicaid plan; and

(B) for a recipient under another program described by Subdivision (1), that program.

(2) "Regional contracted broker" means an entity that contracts with the commission to provide or arrange for the provision of nonemergency transportation services under the medical transportation program.

(3) "Transportation network company" has the meaning assigned by Section 2402.001, Occupations Code.

(a-1) Subject to Section 533.002571(i), this section does not apply to the provision of nonemergency transportation services on or after September 1, 2020, to a Medicaid recipient who is enrolled in a managed care plan offered by a Medicaid managed care organization.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall directly supervise the administration and operation of the medical transportation program under this section.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission may not delegate the commission's duty to supervise the medical transportation program to any other person, including through a contract with the Texas Department of Transportation for the department to assume any of the commission's responsibilities relating to the provision of services through that program.

(d) Subject to Section 533.00257, the commission may contract with a public transportation provider, as defined by Section 461.002, Transportation Code, a private transportation provider, or a regional transportation broker for the provision of public transportation services, as defined by Section 461.002, Transportation Code, under the medical transportation program.

(e) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to ensure the safe and efficient provision of nonemergency transportation services under this section. The rules must include:

(1) minimum standards regarding the physical condition and maintenance of motor vehicles used to provide the services, including standards regarding the accessibility of motor vehicles by persons with disabilities;

(2) a requirement that a regional contracted broker verify that each motor vehicle operator providing the services or seeking to provide the services has a valid driver's license;

(3) a requirement that a regional contracted broker check the driving record information maintained by the Department of Public Safety under Subchapter C, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, of each motor vehicle operator providing the services or seeking to provide the services;

(4) a requirement that a regional contracted broker check the public criminal record information maintained by the Department of Public Safety and made available to the public through the department's Internet website of each motor vehicle operator providing the services or seeking to provide the services; and

(5) training requirements for motor vehicle operators providing the services through a regional contracted broker, including training on the following topics:

(A) passenger safety;

(B) passenger assistance;

(C) assistive devices, including wheelchair lifts, tie-down equipment, and child safety seats;

(D) sensitivity and diversity;

(E) customer service;

(F) defensive driving techniques; and

(G) prohibited behavior by motor vehicle operators.

(f) Except as provided by Subsection (j), the commission shall require compliance with the rules adopted under Subsection (e) in any contract entered into with a regional contracted broker to provide nonemergency transportation services under the medical transportation program.

(g) The commission shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Public Safety for purposes of obtaining the motor vehicle registration and driver's license information of a provider of medical transportation services, including a regional contracted broker and a subcontractor of the broker, to confirm that the provider complies with applicable requirements adopted under Subsection (e).

(h) The commission shall establish a process by which providers of medical transportation services, including providers under a managed transportation delivery model, that contract with the commission may request and obtain the information described under Subsection (g) for purposes of ensuring that subcontractors providing medical transportation services meet applicable requirements adopted under Subsection (e).

(i) Emergency medical services personnel and emergency medical services vehicles, as those terms are defined by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code, may not provide nonemergency transportation services under the medical transportation program.

(j) A regional contracted broker may subcontract with a transportation network company to provide services under this section. A rule or other requirement adopted by the executive commissioner under Subsection (e) does not apply to the subcontracted transportation network company or a motor vehicle operator who is part of the company's network. The commission or the regional contracted broker may not require a motor vehicle operator who is part of the subcontracted transportation network company's network to enroll as a Medicaid provider to provide services under this section.

(k) The commission or a regional contracted broker that subcontracts with a transportation network company under Subsection (j) may require the transportation network company or a motor vehicle operator who provides services under this section to be periodically screened against the list of excluded individuals and entities maintained by the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

(l) Notwithstanding any other law, a motor vehicle operator who is part of the network of a transportation network company that subcontracts with a regional contracted broker under Subsection (j) and who satisfies the driver requirements in Section 2402.107, Occupations Code, is qualified to provide services under this section. The commission and the regional contracted broker may not impose any additional requirements on a motor vehicle operator who satisfies the driver requirements in Section 2402.107, Occupations Code, to provide services under this section.

(m) For purposes of this section and notwithstanding Section 2402.111(a)(2)(A), Occupations Code, a motor vehicle operator who provides services under this section may use a wheelchair-accessible vehicle equipped with a lift or ramp that is capable of transporting passengers using a fixed-frame wheelchair in the cabin of the vehicle if the vehicle otherwise meets the requirements of Section 2402.111, Occupations Code.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 268 (S.B. 10), Sec. 3(a), eff. September 1, 2007.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 997 (H.B. 2136), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1311 (S.B. 8), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 2.053, eff. April 2, 2015.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1235 (H.B. 1576), Sec. 2, eff. June 14, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1235 (H.B. 1576), Sec. 3, eff. June 14, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1235 (H.B. 1576), Sec. 4, eff. June 14, 2019.

For expiration of this section, see Subsection (i).