Extension of Ambulance Add-Ons for Ambulance Services
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). PPACA Sections 3105 and 10311 impact certain ambulance payment provisions. It should be noted that PPACA Section 3105 establishes the implementation date as April 1, 2010. PPACA Section 10311 revises Section 3105 and changes the implementation date retroactive to January 1, 2010.
The PPACA extends increases in the ambulance fee schedule amounts for covered ground ambulance transports which originated in rural areas by 3 percent and for covered ground ambulance transports which originated in urban areas by 2 percent retroactive to January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010. The new law similarly extends the provision for air ambulance services provided in any area that was designated as a rural area for purposes of making payments under the ambulance fee schedule for services furnished on December 31, 2006. Finally, the PPACA extends retroactive to January 1, 2010, and through December 31, 2010, Section 414 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 which established the super rural bonus.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is working to expeditiously implement these three ambulance provisions of the PPACA. Be on the alert for more information about these ambulance provisions and their impact on your past and future claims. Further, be on the alert for more information pertaining to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
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