The Washington State House of Representatives, on Thursday, unanimously passed a bill from Rep. David Stuebe that would reinforce Medicaid support for emergency ambulance providers and protect access to lifesaving services across the state.
House Bill 2531 would update Washington’s ambulance quality assurance fee program to promote long-term financial stability for emergency medical providers while maintaining compliance with federal Medicaid requirements. The bill would modernize the way Medicaid reimbursement rates are calculated and adjusted for emergency ambulance transports.
Under the legislation, the state would continue collecting a quality assurance fee from private, nongovernmental ambulance providers, placing those funds into a dedicated account, and using them to draw down federal Medicaid matching dollars. Those combined funds would then be used to increase reimbursement rates for emergency transports.
“Ambulance providers are often the first and only line of care in a crisis, particularly in rural communities,” said Stuebe, R-Washougal. “This legislation strengthens the financial foundation they depend on and helps ensure Washington does not leave federal Medicaid dollars on the table.”
HB 2531 would require the Health Care Authority to update the Medicaid add-on payment for emergency ambulance transports each year. Current law allows those rates to remain unchanged for multiple years, even when transport volumes and costs fluctuate. Annual recalculations would better reflect real-time conditions and the available federal funding.
“Reliable funding allows providers to plan ahead, retain trained professionals, and keep emergency vehicles ready to respond,” Stuebe said. “This approach balances stability for providers with accountability for taxpayers.”
The measure would also update and clarify program definitions to ensure accurate calculations and continued federal compliance. The program would remain revenue-neutral to the state and would not rely on the general fund.
The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
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