(a)(1) The Alabama Medicaid Agency shall request any approval from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services it deems necessary for the use of assessments pursuant to this article and for the purpose of receiving associated federal matching funds.(2) This article shall be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is available.(b) The Alabama Medicaid Agency may modify or make adjustments to any methodology, assessment amount, or other provision specified in this article to the extent necessary to meet the requirements of federal law or regulations or to obtain federal approval, but only if subsection (c) of Section 40-26B-93 and subsection (b) of Section 40-26B-96 remain in full force and effect. To the extent that the Alabama Medicaid Agency reduces the emergency medical transport enhancement in order to meet the requirements of federal law or regulations or to obtain federal approval, it must reduce the assessment rate such that the amount of assessment collected does not exceed the amounts needed for the uses described in subsection (c) of Section 40-26B-93.(c) The Commissioner of Alabama Medicaid may exempt categories of emergency medical transport providers from the assessment if necessary to obtain federal approval.(d) To the extent that the Alabama Medicaid Agency reduces the total assessment collected pursuant to this Article pursuant to subsections (b) or (c) of this section, the amount described in subdivision (c)(2) of Section 40-26B-93 shall be reduced in proportion to the amount of the reduced total assessments.
