HB 5484 — AN ACT EXPANDING TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR HOME CARE CLIENTS.

House of Representatives General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

5484392 February Session, 2026 LCOHouse Bill No.

17365484 ReferredHouse toof Representatives, April 2, 2026 The Committee on HUMANHuman SERVICESServices Introducedreported by:through REP.

(HS)GILCHREST ANof ACTthe EXPANDING18th TRANSPORTATIONDist., OPTIONSChairperson FORof HOMEthe CARECommittee CLIENTS.on the part of the House, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT EXPANDING TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR HOME CARE CLIENTS.

The Commissioner ofSocial Services shall prescribe uniform forms on which agencies providing such services shall report their costs for suchservices.Suchratesshallbedeterminedonthebasisofareasonable payment for necessaryservicesrendered.Themaximumallowablerates established by the Commissioner of Social Services for the Connecticut home-care program for the elderly established under section 17b-342 shall constitute the rates required under this section until revised in accordanceHB5484 with/ thisFile section.No.

The392 Commissioner of Social Services shall LCO 1736 1 ofHB5484 3File Raised Bill No.

5484392 establishaccordance awith feethis schedule,section. to be effective on and after July 1, 1994, for homemaker services, chore person services, companion services, respite care, meals on wheels, adult day care services, case management and assessment services, transportation, mental health counseling and elderly foster care.

The Commissioner of Social Services shall establish a fee schedule, to be effective on and after July 1, 1994, for homemaker services, chore person services, companion services, respite care, meals on wheels, adult day care services, case management and assessment services, transportation, mental health counseling and elderly foster care.

(NEW) (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, on and after July 1, 2026, the commissioner shall reimburse a home care provider, as defined in section 17b-374, who provides a home care client whoHB5484 is/ aFile Medicaid beneficiary transportation to or from a medical LCO 1736 2 of 3 Raised Bill No.

5484392 appointment,2 providedHB5484 suchFile homeNo. care provider has a state-issued driver's license and sufficient liability insurance as prescribed by the commissioner.

392 who is a Medicaid beneficiary transportation to or from a medical appointment, provided such home care provider has a state-issued driver's license and sufficient liability insurance as prescribed by the commissioner.

2 July 1, 2026 17b-276(c) HS Joint Favorable LCOHB5484 1736/ 3File ofNo. 3

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392 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Social Services, Dept.

GF - Cost Indeterminate Indeterminate Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill results in a cost to the Department of Social Services (DSS) associated with increasing payments for home care providers who transport Medicaid clients to or from medical appointments.

The extent of the cost cannot be determined at this time as the bill does not specify the scope of the increases.

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to payment rates and associated utilization.

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392 OLR Bill Analysis HB 5484 AN ACT EXPANDING TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR HOME CARE CLIENTS.

SUMMARY This bill requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) commissioner, starting July 1, 2026, to reimburse home care providers who transport Medicaid recipients to or from medical appointments (nonemergency medical transport (NEMT)) so long as the provider has a Connecticut driver’s license and liability insurance in an amount the commissioner sets.

She must do this regardless of existing law on competitive bidding for Medicaid NEMT.

Correspondingly, it requires the commissioner, starting July 1, 2026, to increase the fees that the department pays for home care providers who provide NEMT to Medicaid recipients.

Existing law, unchanged by the bill, allows DSS to annually increase these fees for home care services, which are set by schedule, based on increases in service costs.

The state’s rate for these services cannot exceed that charged to the public.

Under the bill, home care providers are those who:

1.

either (a) offer home care or long-term services and supports and are not licensed by the Department of Public Health or (b) are employed by an entity that provides these services, such as a home health care, home health aide, hospice, or homemaker companion agency, and 2.

are not personal care attendants or family caregivers (those who provide adult family living services under DSS or Department of Developmental Services Medicaid waiver programs).

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392 EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2026 COMMITTEE ACTION Human Services Committee Joint Favorable Yea 23 Nay 0 (03/19/2026) HB5484 / File No.