General

20.1.1 - General (Rev. 1696; Issued: 03-06-09; Effective/Implementation Date: 04-06-09) Payment under the fee schedule for ambulance services: • Includes a base rate payment plus a separate payment for mileage; • Covers both the transport of the beneficiary to the nearest appropriate facility and all items and services associated with such transport; and • Does not include a separate payment for items and services furnished under the ambulance benefit. Payment for items and services is included in the fee schedule payment. Such items and services include but are not limited to oxygen, drugs, extra attendants, and EKG testing (e.g., ancillary services) - but only when such items and services are both medically necessary and covered by Medicare under the ambulance benefit. For additional information on the fee schedule, contractors may refer to the “Ambulance Services Center” on the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for- Service-Payment/AmbulanceFeeSchedule/index.html