The Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall review the Medical Assistance Program reimbursement rates for emergency transportation providers to determine if existing rates are fair and reasonable. Notwithstanding this review, the cabinet shall by promulgation of administrative regulation, pursuant to KRS Chapter 13A, do the following:
(1) Prescribe reimbursement rates for emergency transportation providers to ensure that emergency rates are paid only for transporting medical assistance recipients to the emergency room of a hospital in emergency situations;
(2) Establish, in nonemergency cases, lower medical assistance reimbursement rates for emergency transportation providers for the transportation of stretcher patients from nursing homes to physician offices or hospitals; and (3) Establish a verification system that requires medical providers to confirm that medical assistance recipients have appointments for medical services and that medical services were medically necessary and were obtained prior to payment by the cabinet to the emergency transportation provider.