Program_Memos / 2002 / AB-02-036

Why This Topic Matters

Ambulance claims depend on correctly recognizing CMS fee schedule updates and code transitions. This memorandum affects how ambulance transport categories are represented in billing systems and how providers and payers track the temporary transition guidance.

Article Sections

1. Scope

   Overview of the memorandum’s purpose and the general category of ambulance fee schedule changes it addresses.

2. Background

   Context for the fee schedule update and the HCPCS coding changes associated with ambulance services.

3. Policy

   General policy discussion of payment treatment during the transition period and the ambulance service categories involved.

4. ALS Vehicle Used, Emergency Transport, No ALS Service Furnished

   Transition-period guidance for one ambulance transport scenario tied to Medicare payment processing.

5. ALS Vehicle Used, Non-Emergency Transport, No ALS Service Furnished

   Transition-period guidance for another ambulance transport scenario tied to Medicare payment processing.

6. Only ALS Service Furnished is ALS Assessment

   Discussion of a rescinded temporary policy and the related ambulance coding update.

7. Implementation

   Operational instructions for deleting and adding HCPCS codes and updating claims processing workflows.

8. Provider Education

   Instructions for communicating the update to providers and posting the information for reference.

9. Attachment: Ambulance HCPCS Crosswalk and Definitions

   A crosswalk between new and old ambulance HCPCS codes, followed by general definitions of levels of service and related ambulance categories.

10. Definitions of Level of Service

    General descriptions of ambulance service levels and transport categories used in the attachment.