Ambulances Services Center

Spotlights

• Updated 12/07/20: CMS is using its statutory authority under section 1135(b)(5) of the Act to modify the data collection and reporting period for ground ambulance organizations that were selected to report in year 1 and year 2 of the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System. This revised modification has been issued on page 31 in the following document: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/summary-covid-19-emergency-declaration-waivers.pdf (PDF). 
• CMS has developed COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (PDF) on Medicare Fee For Service (FFS) Billing.  Ambulance services FAQs begin on page 45.
• New Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System

  Effective January 1, 2020 and continuing through 2024, ground ambulance providers and suppliers that have been selected to participate in the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System must collect information on cost, utilization, revenue, and other service characteristics in accordance with the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument for a continuous 12-month period.  The information collected will be used to evaluate the extent to which reported costs relate to payment rates under the Medicare Part B Ambulance Fee Schedule (AFS), as well as to collect information on the utilization of capital equipment and ambulance capacity, and the different types of ground ambulance services furnished in different geographic locations, including rural areas and low population density areas (super rural areas).  Failure to sufficiently submit the required information will result in a 10 percent reduction to payments under the AFS for one year, unless a hardship exemption has been granted or an informal review has determined that your organization is not subject to the 10 percent reduction to payments.

  For additional information, see:

  • CY 2020 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule 
  • Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System webpage   
  • Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument (printable version - Updated 07/31/2020) (PDF)
  • Report: Medicare’s Ground Ambulance Data Collection System: Sampling and Instrument Considerations and Recommendations (PDF)  
  • Ground Ambulance Providers and Suppliers Selected to Submit Data in Year 1 (ZIP)  
  • Ground Ambulance Providers and Suppliers Selected to Submit Data in Year 2 (ZIP)
  • FAQs (Updated 07/31/2020) (PDF)  
  • Quick Reference Guide (PDF)
• Webinars:
  • Ambulance Open Door Forum: October 22, 2020 transcript and audio file
  • March 12, 2020 Ground Ambulance Organizations: Data Collection for Public Safety-Based Organizations Call presentation and transcript
  • February 20, 2020 Ground Ambulance Organizations: Reporting Volunteer Labor Call presentation and transcript
  • Ambulance Open Door Forum: February 6, 2020 Slide Presentation (PDF)
  • Ambulance Open Door Forum: February 6, 2020 transcript and audio file (ZIP)
  • December 5, 2019 National Provider call presentation and transcript
  • Ambulance Open Door Forum: November 7, 2019 Slide Presentation (PDF)
  • Ambulance Open Door Forum: November 7, 2019 transcript and audio file (ZIP)
  • Ambulance Open Door Forum: August 28, 2019 Slide Presentation (PDF)
  • Ambulance Open Door Forum: August 28, 2019 transcript (PDF)

• Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2018 (Public Law 115-123)
  • The BBA of 2018 includes three major Medicare ambulance services provisions pertaining to: Extensions of certain ground ambulance add-on payments, Development of a data collection system for ground ambulance providers and suppliers, and Payment reduction for non-emergency ESRD ambulance transports. A summary of these provisions (PDF) is also available.

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