Joint Responses

10.5 - Joint Responses (Rev. 125, Issued 05-14-10, Effective: 01-04-10, Implementation: 06-15-10) A. BLS/ALS Joint Responses In situations where a BLS entity provides the transport of the beneficiary and an ALS entity provides a service that meets the fee schedule definition of an ALS intervention (e.g., ALS assessment, Paramedic Intercept services, etc.), the BLS supplier may bill Medicare the ALS rate provided that a written agreement between the BLS and ALS entities exists prior to submitting the Medicare claim. Providers/suppliers must provide a copy of the agreement or other such evidence (e.g., signed attestation) as determined by their A/B MAC (A) or (B) upon request. A/B MACs (A) and (B) must refer any issues that cannot be resolved to the regional office. Medicare does not regulate the compensation between the BLS entity and the ALS entity. If there is no agreement between the BLS ambulance supplier and the ALS entity furnishing the service, then only the BLS level of payment may be made. In this situation, the ALS entity’s services are not covered, and the beneficiary is liable for the expense of the ALS services to the extent that these services are beyond the scope of the BLS level of payment. B. Ground to Air Ambulance Transports 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 pickup to the point of transfer to the air ambulance.