Improved Access to Ambulance Services Payment Rates for Effective Dates of Service July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2009
MLN Matters Number: MM6206
Related Change Request (CR) #: 6206
Related CR Release Date: December 12, 2008
Effective Date: July 1, 2008
Related CR Transmittal #: R414OTN
Implementation Date: January 12, 2009
Provider Types Affected
Ambulance providers and suppliers submitting claims to Medicare contractors (carriers, Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs), and/or Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs)) for ambulance services provided to Medicare beneficiaries.
What You Need to Know
CR 6206, from which this article is taken, announces an increase made in payment for ground ambulance transports. Effective July 1, 2008, the ambulance fee schedule amounts for covered ground ambulance transports which originate in rural areas were increased by three (3) percent, and for covered ground ambulance transports which originate non-rural areas, they were increased by two (2) percent. This will continue through December 31, 2009.
Important: Palmetto GBA has already made adjustments in payment as described in this article. There are no additional payment adjustments forthcoming, and no additional actions are required on the part of ambulance providers.
Background
Section 146(a) of Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPAA) amends Section 1834(1)(13) of the Social Security Act to provide an increase in payment for ground transports, effective for claims with dates of service on or after July 1, 2008, and before January 1, 2010. It increases the ambulance fee schedule amounts for:
- Covered ground ambulance transports which originate in a rural area by three (3) percent and
- Covered ground ambulance transports which originate in a non-rural area by two (2) percent
Additional Information
If you have any questions, please contact our Provider Contact Center at our toll free number, (866) 332-7025 (Ohio/West Virginia) or (888) 828-2092 (South Carolina Part B).
Disclaimer
This article was prepared as a service to the public and is not intended to grant rights or impose obligations. This article may contain references or links to statutes, regulations, or other policy materials. The information provided is only intended to be a general summary. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. We encourage readers to review the specific statutes, regulations and other interpretive materials for a full and accurate statement of their contents.