The legislative bill, authored by Zeleznikar and referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy, proposes to establish a pilot program in the state of Minnesota. This program will develop a new web-based system for managing nonemergency medical transportation services for people under medical assistance and MinnesotaCare.

The bill outlines that by January 1, 2026, the commissioner of human services, in collaboration with the commissioner of transportation, must launch one or two pilot versions of this web-based system. Each pilot program has to include at least two counties, specifically excluding metropolitan counties.

The program designed must provide: 1. Two-way communication between those funding the services (payers) and transportation providers. 2. The ability for clients and their advocates to schedule rides and track them in real time. 3. Instant determination of a client’s eligibility for services and the level of service they can receive. 4. On-demand reporting features. 5. Quick payment processes for transportation providers. 6. A feature for collecting feedback on issues like the suitability of transport provided, the type of transportation used, and any barriers in accessing the transportation.

Each pilot program is set to run for three years starting from its implementation date. Furthermore, starting from February 1, 2027, and annually during the pilot, a report evaluating the program must be submitted to the pertinent legislative committees overseeing nonemergency medical transportation.

This initiative aims to streamline and enhance the efficiency of coordinating nonemergency medical transportation to ensure better service delivery and communication among all parties involved.