RETIRED Local Coverage Determination (LCD)

Ambulance Services

L34549

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Proposed LCD
Proposed LCDs are works in progress that are available on the Medicare Coverage Database site for public review. Proposed LCDs are not necessarily a reflection of the current policies or practices of the contractor.
Retired

Document Note

Note History

Contractor Information

LCD Information

Document Information

Source LCD ID
N/A
LCD ID
L34549
Original ICD-9 LCD ID
Not Applicable
LCD Title
Ambulance Services
Proposed LCD in Comment Period
N/A
Source Proposed LCD
N/A
Original Effective Date
For services performed on or after 10/01/2015
Revision Effective Date
For services performed on or after 07/29/2021
Revision Ending Date
08/31/2024
Retirement Date
08/31/2024
Notice Period Start Date
N/A
Notice Period End Date
N/A

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Current Dental Terminology © 2023 American Dental Association. All rights reserved.

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Issue

Issue Description
Issue - Explanation of Change Between Proposed LCD and Final LCD

CMS National Coverage Policy

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act §1862(a)(1)(A) allows coverage and payment for only those services that are considered to be reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act §1861(s)(7) defines ambulance service where the use of other methods of transportation is contraindicated by the individual's condition, but only to the extent provided in regulations

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act §1861(v)(1)(K)(ii) defines emergency services

42 CFR §410.40 addresses the coverage of ambulance services

42 CFR §424.36 (a)-(e) addresses signature requirements

Federal Register, Vol. 66, No. 233, December 4, 2001, Rules and Regulations, pp.62980, Ambulance Restocking and the Anti-Kickback Statute

Federal Register, Vol. 67, No. 39, February 27, 2002, Rules and Regulations, pp. 9102, 9106, and 9108

CMS Internet-Only Manual, Pub 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 10, §10.1 Vehicle and Crew Requirement, §10.1.1 The Vehicle, §10.1.2 Vehicle Requirements for Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support, §10.1.3 Verification of Compliance, §10.1.4 Ambulance Services Furnished by Providers of Services, §10.1.5 Equipment and Supplies, §10.2 Necessity and Reasonableness, §10.2.1 Necessity for the Service, §10.2.3 Medicare Policy Concerning Bed-Confinement, §10.2.4 Documentation Requirements, §10.2.5 Transport of Persons Other Than the Beneficiary, §10.3.5 Locality, §10.3.6 Appropriate Facilities, §10.4.2 Medical Reasonableness, §10.4.3 Time Needed for Ground Transport. §10.4.7 Documentation, §20.1 Mandatory Assignment Requirements, §20.1.1 Managed Care Providers/Suppliers, §20.1.2 Beneficiary Signature Requirements, §30 Implementation of the Ambulance Fee Schedule, §30.1 Definition of Ambulance Services, §30.1.1 Ground Ambulance Services, and §30.1.2 Air Ambulance Services

CMS Internet-Only Manual, Pub 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 15, §10 Overview, §10.1 Authorities, §10.1.1 Statutes and Regulations, §10.1.2 Other References to Ambulance Related Policies in the CMS Internet Only Manuals, §10.3 Definitions, §20.1.2 Jurisdiction, §20.1.5 ZIP Code Determines Fee Schedule Amounts, §20.1.5.1 CMS Supplied National ZIP Code File and National Ambulance Fee Schedule File, §20.1.6 Contractor Determination of Fee Schedule Amounts, §20.2 Payment for Mileage Charges, §20.4 Ambulance Inflation Factor (AIF), §20.5 Documentation Requirements, §30.1.4 CWF Editing of Ambulance Claims for Inpatients, and §40 Medical Conditions List and Instructions

CMS Internet-Only Manual, Pub 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 6, §6.4 Medical Review of Rural Air Ambulance Services, §6.4.1 "Reasonable" Requests, §6.4.2 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Protocols, §6.4.3 Prohibited Air Ambulance Relationships, §6.4.4 Reasonable and Necessary Services, and §6.4.5 Definition of Rural Air Ambulance Services

Coverage Guidance

Coverage Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity

Medicare covers ambulance services, only if they are furnished to a beneficiary whose medical condition is such that use of any other means of transportation is contraindicated. A beneficiary whose condition permits transport in any type of vehicle, other than an ambulance, would not qualify for services under Medicare. The beneficiary's condition at the time of the transport is the determining factor in whether medical necessity is met.

A. Emergency Ambulance Services (Ground):

Emergency response means responding immediately at the Basic Life Support (BLS) or Advanced Life Support, Level 1 (ALS1) level of service to a 911 call or the equivalent in areas without a 911 call system. Medicare will cover emergency ambulance services when the services are medically necessary, meet the destination limits of the closest appropriate facilities, and are provided by an ambulance service that is licensed by the state.

Medical Reasonableness:

Medical reasonableness is established if the beneficiary's condition is an emergency, and the beneficiary is unable to go to the hospital by other means. An emergency means services provided after the sudden onset of a medical condition, manifesting itself by acute signs or symptoms of sufficient severity such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in the following: placing the beneficiary's health in serious jeopardy; serious impairment to bodily functions; or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.

Examples of emergency situations are: (Note: this list is not all inclusive)

1. Injury resulting from an accident, or illness with acute symptoms. Examples are hemorrhage, shock, chest pain, acute neurological symptoms or respiratory distress.

2. The beneficiary requires restraints by a professionally trained ambulance attendant as a means of preventing injury either to the beneficiary or to another person. A description of why restraints are necessary is required. Such descriptions may include narrative describing specific violent or psychotic acts, frequency/severity/predictability of seizure activity, or a precise description of the risk to safety that unrestrained and unsupervised transport would create. A sole diagnosis of senility, forgetfulness, or Alzheimer's does not qualify.

3. Oxygen is required by the beneficiary during transport. The administration of oxygen itself does not satisfy the requirement that the beneficiary needed oxygen. Documentation should reflect the need for oxygen administration, such as hypoxemia, syncope, airway obstruction, and chest pain. Ambulance transport is not medically necessary if the only reason for the ambulance service is to provide oxygen during transport, and the beneficiary has a portable oxygen system available.

4. Immobilization of the beneficiary is necessary because of a suspected fracture, a compound fracture, severe pain, the need for pain medication, or suspicion of neurological injury.

5. A transfer is made of a beneficiary between institutions for necessary services not available at the transferring institution and the beneficiary meets any of the criteria 1-4 above. Examples are beneficiaries with cardiac disease requiring cardiac catheterization or coronary bypass not available at the transferring institution.

B. Non-Emergency (Scheduled) Ambulance Service (Ground):

Three criteria determine whether a beneficiary has Medicare coverage for non-emergency (scheduled) ambulance services:

  * Only when transportation by any other means of transportation is contraindicated by the medical condition of the beneficiary;

  * Only to specific destinations; and

  * Only when certified as medically necessary by a physician directly responsible for the beneficiary's care

NOTE: All 3 of the above criteria must be met.

Medical Reasonableness:

Ambulance transport in non-emergency situations must meet medical necessity guidelines.

1. Medical reasonableness is established for non-emergency ambulance services when the beneficiary's condition is such that the use of any other method of transportation (e.g., taxi, private car, wheelchair van, or other type of vehicle) is contraindicated.

NOTE: Bed confinement does not include a beneficiary who is restricted to bed rest on a physician's instructions due to a short-term illness. Bed confinement, by itself, is neither sufficient nor is it necessary to determine the coverage for Medicare ambulance benefits. It is simply 1 element of the beneficiary's condition that may be taken into account in the A/B MAC determination of whether means of transport, other than an ambulance, were contraindicated. Examples of situations in which beneficiaries are bed-confined and cannot be moved by wheelchair, but must be moved by stretcher include:

a. Contractures creating non-ambulatory status and the beneficiary cannot sit

b. Severe generalized weakness

c. Severe vertigo causing inability to remain upright

d. Immobility of lower extremities (beneficiary is in a spica cast, fixed hip joints, or lower extremity paralysis) and unable to be moved by wheelchair

2. If some means of transportation other than an ambulance (e.g., private car, wheelchair van, etc.) could be utilized without endangering the individual's health, whether or not such other transportation is actually available, no payment may be made for ambulance service.

3. If transportation is for the purpose of receiving an excluded service (e.g., a routine dental examination) then the transportation is also excluded even if the beneficiary could only have gone by ambulance.

4. If transportation is for the purpose of receiving a service that could have been safely and effectively provided at the point of origin, then the transport is not covered even if the beneficiary could only have gone by ambulance. Examples include: (a) A transport from a residence to a hospital for a service that can be performed more economically in the beneficiary's home, and (b) A transport of a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) beneficiary to a hospital or to another SNF for a service that can be performed more economically in the first SNF.

5. Ambulance transportation for services excluded from SNF consolidated billing must meet the criteria as reasonable and necessary (i.e., other means contraindicated).

C. Emergency Air Ambulance Transportation:

Emergency response means responding immediately at the BLS or ALS1 level of service to a 911 call or the equivalent in areas without a 911 call system. An immediate response is one in which the ambulance supplier begins as quickly as possible to take the steps necessary to respond to the call. Medically appropriate air ambulance transportation, either by means of a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft, is a covered service, regardless of the state or region in which it is rendered, only if the beneficiary's medical condition required immediate and rapid ambulance transportation that could not have been provided by land ambulance, or either:

A. The point of pick-up is inaccessible by land vehicle (this condition could be met in Hawaii, Alaska, and in other remote or sparsely populated areas of the continental United States), or

B. Great distances or other obstacles (i.e., heavy traffic) are involved in getting the patient to the nearest hospital with appropriate facilities as described in this policy.

NOTE: If the transport is for the purpose of receiving a non-covered service, then the transport is also non-covered, even if the destination is an appropriate facility.

Physician Certification & Order:

Ambulance transport providers or suppliers must obtain a written order from the attending physician for all non-emergency, scheduled repetitive ambulance services and a written statement from the physician certifying the medical necessity of the ambulance services. Requirements for non-emergency ambulance transportation include:

1. The order and certification must be dated no earlier than 60 days in advance of the transport, for repetitive beneficiaries whose transportation is scheduled in advance.

2. For residents in facilities who are under the direct care of a physician, written orders from the patient's attending physician certifying medical necessity can be obtained within 48 hours after the transport.

3. The physician order may be signed by a physician assistant (PA), nurse practitioner (NP), or clinical nurse specialist (CNS) (where all applicable state licensure or certification requirements are met).

4. For unscheduled non-emergency transports, a registered nurse (RN) or discharge planner, who is employed by the beneficiary's attending physician or the hospital or facility where the patient is being treated, may sign a physician certification statement on oral orders from the physician or other qualified practitioner (i.e., PA, NP, CNS).

5. A physician order is not required prior to emergency transports or unscheduled transports of a beneficiary residing at home or in a facility, who is not under the direct care of a physician.

NOTE: It is important to note that the presence of the signed physician certification statement does not necessarily demonstrate that the transport was medically necessary.

Summary of Evidence

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Analysis of Evidence (Rationale for Determination)

N/A

Proposed Process Information

Synopsis of Changes
Changes Fields Changed
N/A
Associated Information
Sources of Information
Bibliography
Open Meetings
Meeting Date Meeting States Meeting Information
N/A
Contractor Advisory Committee (CAC) Meetings
Meeting Date Meeting States Meeting Information
N/A
MAC Meeting Information URLs
N/A
Proposed LCD Posting Date
Comment Period Start Date
Comment Period End Date
Reason for Proposed LCD
Requestor Information
This request was MAC initiated.
Requestor Name Requestor Letter
View Letter
N/A
Contact for Comments on Proposed LCD

Coding Information

Bill Type Codes

Code Description

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N/A

Revenue Codes

Code Description

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N/A

CPT/HCPCS Codes

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N/A

ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph:

N/A

Group 1 Codes:

N/A

N/A

ICD-10-CM Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph:

N/A

Group 1 Codes:

N/A

N/A

Additional ICD-10 Information

General Information

Associated Information

Documentation Requirements- For non-emergent transport:

It is the responsibility of the ambulance supplier to furnish complete and accurate documentation of the beneficiary's condition to demonstrate that the ambulance service being furnished meets the medical necessity criteria.

Documentation should include a physicians written order for transport.

Trip record to include:

    • Detailed statement of the condition necessitating the ambulance service

    • Name and address of the certifying physician

    • Name and address of the physician ordering the service, if other than the certifying physician

    • Point of pick-up (identify place and complete address)

    • Destination (identify place and complete address)

    • Number of loaded miles (the number of miles traveled when the beneficiary was in the ambulance)

    • Cost per mile

    • Mileage charge

    • Minimal or base charge

    • Charge for special items or services with an explanation

    • Rationale for the condition (bed confined if applicable) and any further documentation that supports the medical necessity of ambulance transport (i.e., emergency room report).

Documentation Requirements- For emergent transport:

It is the responsibility of the ambulance supplier to furnish complete and accurate documentation of the beneficiary's condition to demonstrate that the ambulance service being furnished meets the medical necessity criteria.

Documentation should include a physicians written order for transport.

Trip record to include:

    • Detailed statement of the condition necessitating the ambulance service
    • Name and address of the certifying physician
    • Name and address of the physician ordering the service, if other than the certifying physician
    • Point of pick-up (identify place and complete address)
    • Destination (identify place and complete address)
    • Number of loaded miles (the number of miles traveled when the beneficiary was in the ambulance)
    • Cost per mile
    • Mileage charge
    • Minimal or base charge
    • Charge for special items or services with an explanation

    • Rationale for the condition (bed confined if applicable) and any further documentation that supports the medical necessity of ambulance transport (i.e., emergency room report).

Documentation supporting the medical necessity should be legible, maintained in the patient's medical record, and must be made available to the A/B MAC upon request.

Utilization Guidelines

Aspirin alone does not qualify to validate as an indicator that an ALS2 level has been supplied. Oxygen alone, even at high flow rates, does not qualify to validate as an indication that an ALS2 level has been supplied. Administration of IV fluids, even with a fluid challenge, does not qualify to validate as an indication that an ALS2 level has been supplied.

Nitroglycerin administered as an assist to the beneficiary's own nitroglycerin does not qualify to validate as an indication that an ALS2 level has been supplied. Nitroglycerin administered intravenously from the ambulance stock under a physician's telephonic order, or standing orders does qualify as an indication (as 1 of 3 medications) that an ALS2 level has been supplied.

Sources of Information
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Bibliography

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Revision History Information

Revision History Date Revision History Number Revision History Explanation Reasons for Change
08/31/2024 R15

This LCD is being retired while this contractor reviews clinical evidence.

  • LCD Being Retired
07/29/2021 R14

Under CMS National Coverage Policy updated section headings for regulations. Typographical errors were corrected throughout the LCD.

  • Provider Education/Guidance
10/10/2019 R13

This LCD is being revised in order to adhere to CMS requirements per Chapter 13, Section 13.5.1 of the Program Integrity Manual, to remove all coding from LCDs. There has been no change in coverage with this LCD revision. Regulations regarding billing and coding were removed from the CMS National Coverage Policy section of this LCD and placed in the related Billing and Coding: Ambulance Services A56468 article. Under CMS National Coverage Policy removed sentence “CMS National Coverage Policy Language quoted from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) and coverage provisions in interpretive manuals is italicized throughout the policy.”

At this time 21st Century Cures Act will apply to new and revised LCDs that restrict coverage which requires comment and notice. This revision is not a restriction to the coverage determination; and, therefore not all the fields included on the LCD are applicable as noted in this policy.

  • Provider Education/Guidance
05/09/2019 R12

All verbiage regarding billing and coding under the Coverage Indications, Limitations and/or Medical Necessity section has been removed and is included in the related Billing and Coding: Ambulance Services A56468 article. Formatting and typographical errors were corrected throughout this section.

At this time 21st Century Cures Act will apply to new and revised LCDs that restrict coverage which requires comment and notice. This revision is not a restriction to the coverage determination; and, therefore not all the fields included on the LCD are applicable as noted in this policy.

  • Provider Education/Guidance
04/04/2019 R11

All coding located in the Coding Information section has been moved into the related Billing and Coding: Ambulance Services A56468 article and removed from the LCD.

Under Coverage Indications, Limitations and/or Medical Necessity removed all quoted Internet Only Manual (IOM) text. Under the subheading B. Non Emergency (Scheduled) Ambulance Service (Ground) - Medical Reasonableness: the verbiage “If the condition contraindicating other means of transportation is “bed confined” the beneficiary must meet the following criteria of “bed confined”. The beneficiary is:” and the verbiage “All three components must be met in order for the beneficiary to be considered “bed-confined” was deleted. The word “It” was replaced by the words “Bed confinement” in first sentence of the NOTE section. Under Associated Information moved verbiage regarding billing and coding to the associated Article A56468. Formatting, punctuation and typographical errors were corrected and acronyms were inserted where appropriate throughout the LCD.

At this time 21st Century Cures Act will apply to new and revised LCDs that restrict coverage which requires comment and notice. This revision is not a restriction to the coverage determination; and, therefore not all the fields included on the LCD are applicable as noted in this policy.

  • Provider Education/Guidance
05/31/2018 R10

Under CMS National Coverage Policy deleted the verbiage “NCDs and coverage provisions in interpretive manuals are not subject to the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Review Process (42 CFR 405.860 (b) and 42 CFR 426 (Subpart D)). In addition, an administrative law judge may not review a NCD. See section 1869(f)(1)(A)(l) of the Social Security Act” from the first paragraph. The verbiage “Code of Federal Regulations-" was deleted from the fifth and sixth regulation. The section range was revised for the ninth regulation and now reads “10-30.1.2”. The section range was revised for the tenth regulation and now reads “10.1.1-40”. The last regulation was deleted from this section as it has been added to the CMS Internet-Only Manual. Under Coverage Indications, Limitations and/or Medical Necessity – A. Emergency Ambulance Services (Ground): added the word “the” before the word “closest”. Under B. Non Emergency (Scheduled) Ambulance Service (Ground): deleted the word “and” at the end of the third sentence. Under Medical Reasonableness: replaced the verbiage “such as:” with “e.g.” in the paragraphs numbered 1, 2 and 3. Under C. Emergency Air Ambulance Transportation: replaced the verbiage “for example,” with “i.e.” in the third paragraph. Under Medical Reasonableness for Emergency Air Ambulance Transportation: changed numbered sentences to bullet points. Under Destination the numbers at the beginning of the second and third paragraph were removed and the paragraphs were combined. The words “beneficiary” was changed to the word “patient” throughout this paragraph.  The verbiage “specialized medical” and “but are not limited to:” were added, and the word “and” was deleted in the second sentence. The verbiage “A patient transported from one hospital to another hospital is covered only if” was added at the beginning of the third sentence.  The word “an” was deleted from the fourth paragraph. Under Ambulance Service to a Physician’s Office: bullets were added at the beginning of the second and third sentences, the word “and” was added after the second sentence, a new paragraph was formed starting with the verbiage “In such cases”, and the word “beneficiary” was replaced with the word “patient”. Under CPT/HCPCS Codes – Group 1: Paragraph – Basic Life Support deleted the verbiage “(as defined in section 10.1, above)” and “(as defined in section 10.2 above)”, and formed a new paragraph starting with the second sentence in the paragraph. Under Basic Life Support (BLS) Emergency added the word “Definition:” at the beginning of the paragraph, deleted the verbiage “as specified above” and “(as specified below)”, and formed a new paragraph starting with the second sentence in the paragraph. Under Advanced Life Support, Level 1 (ALS1) deleted the verbiage “(as defined in section 10.1, above)” and “(as defined in section 10.2, above)” from the first paragraph, and deleted the verbiage “(as defined below)”, “as defined below”, and “as defined in section 10.2 above” from the second paragraph. Under Advanced Life Support, Level 1 (ASL1) – Emergency deleted the verbiage “as specified above” and “as defined below”. Under Advanced Life Support, Level 2 (ASL2) added lettered bullets after the paragraph. Under Specialty Care Transport (SCT) deleted the verbiage “(as defined below)”. Under Associated Information – Documentation Requirements – For non-emergent transport and For emergent transport:  added the word “the” in three places in the third bullet. The word “the” was added before the word “condition” in the last bullet. The words “Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage” was added before the acronym “ABN” and parentheses were placed around the acronym in the third paragraph after the bullets. Throughout the LCD, text quoted from the CMS NCDs and interpretive manuals was italicized, typographical and punctuation errors were corrected, and acronyms were inserted where appropriate.  

 

At this time 21st Century Cures Act will apply to new and revised LCDs that restrict coverage which requires comment and notice. This revision is not a restriction to the coverage determination; and, therefore not all the fields included on the LCD are applicable as noted in this policy.

  • Provider Education/Guidance
  • Typographical Error
01/29/2018 R9 The Jurisdiction "J" Part A Contracts for Alabama (10111), Georgia (10211) and Tennessee (10311) are now being serviced by Palmetto GBA. The notice period for this LCD begins on 12/14/17 and ends on 01/28/18. Effective 01/29/18, these three contract numbers are being added to this LCD. No coverage, coding or other substantive changes (beyond the addition of the 3 Part A contract numbers) have been completed in this revision.
  • Change in Affiliated Contract Numbers
09/18/2017 R8

Under CMS National Coverage Policy added the first paragraph and Change Request 10110. Under Coverage Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity added the heading Locality. Under CPT/HCPCS Codes Group 1: Paragraph Definition of Level of Service- Advanced Life Support, Level 1, (ALS1) revised “may” in the third sentence of the second paragraph to now read “shall” and added verbiage to the end of the sentence.

  • Provider Education/Guidance
  • Other
06/01/2017 R7

Under CPT/HCPCS Codes – updated the definitions of Basic Life Support, Basic Life Support (BLS) Emergency, Advanced Life Support, Level 1 (ALS1), Advance Life Support, Level 1 (ALS1) – Emergency, Advanced Life Support, Level 2 (ALS2), Specialty Care Transport (SCT), Paramedic Intercept (PI) and Rural Air Ambulance Services

  • Provider Education/Guidance
  • Typographical Error
06/09/2016 R6 Under CMS National Coverage Policy added an “s” to the word “service” to Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, §1861 (v)(1)(k)(ii). Section 10.1 was deleted from CMS Internet-Only Manual, PUB 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 10. Sections 10, 10.1 and 20.1 were deleted from CMS Internet-Only Manual, PUB 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 15. Under Coverage Indications, Limitations and/or Medical Necessity-Emergency Ambulance Services (Ground) in the first paragraph added “Basic Life Support” and placed BLS in parenthesis, added “Advanced Life Support, Level 1” and placed ALS1 in parenthesis and placed a forward slash and removed the “or” between the word provider and supplier. Under Destination added the word “or” after the word "dialysis" in the second paragraph. Under Medical Reasonableness in subsection “a” in the first paragraph the word “and” was removed after the word “assistance”. In subsection “d” verbiage was revised to read “beneficiary is in a spica cast..." and in section four replaced the word “in” with “at”. Under Medical Reasonableness for Emergency Air Ambulance Transportation the word “land” was removed twice and replaced with the word “ground”. Under Physician Certification & Order the last sentence in item number four “The physician must later countersign the written order.” was deleted due to a Reconsideration Request. Under Beneficiary Signature Requirement the “s” was deleted from the word “claims” in item number five and verbiage was added to the last sentence of the second to the last paragraph in item number six to read “ (Note: there is a 12 month period for filing a Medicare claim, depending upon the date of service.)”. Under CPT/HCPCS Codes -Basic Life Support the word “technical” was deleted and replaced with the word “technician”, under Advanced Life Support, Level 1 (ALS1) the words “beneficiary’s/beneficiary” were removed and replaced with the words “patient’s”/patient, under Specialty Care Transport (SCT) the word “not” in the last paragraph is bolded and the “s” in “Paramedics” is removed and under Paramedic Intercept (PI) the word “Federal Register” in the last paragraph is bolded and the underlining is removed. UnderAssociated Information – Documentation Requirements-For non-emergent transport-Trip Record the verbiage “Statement indicating the beneficiary was admitted as an inpatient including the name and address of the facility” was deleted. Throughout the entire policy punctuation was corrected.
  • Provider Education/Guidance
  • Typographical Error
  • Reconsideration Request
01/01/2016 R5 The description changed for HCPCS code A0427 under the CPT/HCPCS Codes section.
  • Revisions Due To CPT/HCPCS Code Changes
10/01/2015 R4 Under CMS National Policy corrected the citation for Pub 11-02, Chapter 10, sections 10-30.1.1 to include new section 30.1.2.
Under Coverage Indications, Limitations and/or Medical Necessity made several grammatical and punctuation corrections, under Medical Reasonableness number 3 added “for oxygen administration” to the second sentence, under Destination to clarify transfer site added the verbiage “when a beneficiary is transported by ground ambulance and transferred to an air ambulance, the ground ambulance may bill Medicare for the level of service provided and mileage from the point of pick up to the point of transfer to the air ambulance”.
Under Associated Information added “Documentation should include a” to the Physician written order statement.
  • Provider Education/Guidance
  • Other (Annual Validation)
10/01/2015 R3 Per CMS Internet-Only Manual, Pub 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 13, §13.1.3 LCDs consist of only “reasonable and necessary” information. All bill type and revenue codes have been removed.
  • Other (Bill type and/or revenue code removal)
10/01/2015 R2 Under CMS National Coverage Policy added the entire signature requirements for 42 CFR 424.36(a)-(e).
  • Provider Education/Guidance
  • Other (Expanded signature requirements citation.)
10/01/2015 R1 Under CMS National Coverage Policy revised “CMS Manual System” to now read “CMS Internet-Only Manual” Under Associated Information –Documentation Requirements added the following verbiage to the heading: “for non-emergent transports” and deleted the following verbiage that was previously located after Physician written order for transport- “if non-emergency physician ordered”. An additional heading was added to now read: Documentation Requirements for Emergent Transports. This revision becomes effective May 1, 2014.
  • Provider Education/Guidance
  • Other
N/A

Associated Documents

Attachments
N/A
Related Local Coverage Documents
Articles
A56468 - Billing and Coding: Ambulance Services
Related National Coverage Documents
N/A
Public Versions
Updated On Effective Dates Status
08/31/2024 07/29/2021 - 08/31/2024 Retired You are here
07/23/2021 07/29/2021 - N/A Superseded View
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Keywords

  • Ambulance Services

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