Locality

10.3.5 - Locality (Rev. 236, Issued: 06-16-17, Effective: 09-18-17, Implementation: 09-18-17) The term “locality” with respect to ambulance service means the service area surrounding the institution to which individuals normally travel or are expected to travel to receive hospital or skilled nursing services. The MACs have the discretion to define locality in their service areas. EXAMPLE: Mr. A becomes ill at home and requires ambulance service to the hospital. The small community in which he lives has a 35-bed hospital. Two large metropolitan hospitals are located some distance from Mr. A's community and both regularly provide hospital services to the community's residents. The community is within the "locality" of both metropolitan hospitals and direct ambulance service to either of these (as well as to the local community hospital) is covered.