Are air ambulance services payable when a patient requires a transfer from one hospital to another hospital?
Yes, per the CMS Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-2, Chapter 10, Section 10.4.4, air ambulance services are payable from hospital to hospital if the medical appropriateness criteria are met and the transferring hospital does not have adequate facilities to provide the medical services needed by the patient. Highmark Medicare Services will only reimburse to the nearest available medically appropriate facility.
Yes, per the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Internet Only Manual (IOM), Publication 100-2, Chapter 10, Section 10.4.4, air ambulance services are payable from hospital to hospital if the medical appropriateness criteria are met and the transferring hospital does not have adequate facilities to provide the medical services needed by the patient. Highmark Medicare Services will only reimburse to the nearest available medically appropriate facility.
