Behavioral Health Transportation Medicaid Coverage

Current understanding

Michigan’s Social Welfare Act (1939 PA 280) does not currently specify coverage for behavioral health transportation as a distinct Medicaid benefit. HB 5944 (103rd Legislature) would add sec. 109y to require coverage for behavioral health transportation services under the state’s human services medical programs, tie-barred to HB 5943 which establishes a licensing framework for such providers. The bill is introduced; Medicaid beneficiaries needing non-emergency behavioral health transport would gain an explicit covered benefit, while the state would take on associated program costs.

Evidence log

• 2026-05-12 — Human services: medical services; coverage for behavioral health transportation; provide for. Amends 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.1 - 400.119b) by adding sec. 109y. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5943’26: cross-connection with behavioral-health-transportation-licensing: HB 5944 (Medicaid coverage) and HB 5943 (licensing) are tie-barred, pairing a new regulated provider category with a Medicaid benefit so that licensed behavioral health transporters have an explicit public payment pathway. (novelty: 2)

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