Definitions

The following terms used in 130 CMR 407.000 and Subchapter 6 of the Transportation Manual have the meanings given in 130 CMR 407.402, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning. The reimbursability of services defined in 130 CMR 407.000 is not determined by these definitions, but by application of regulations elsewhere in 130 CMR 407.000 and 450.000: Administrative and Billing Regulations. Additional Person — a person traveling in the same vehicle with another person for the purpose of receiving services covered by MassHealth. Advanced Life Support, Level 1 (ALS1) — when medically necessary, the provision of an assessment by an advanced life support (ALS) ambulance provider or supplier and the furnishing of one or more ALS interventions. An ALS assessment is performed by an ALS crew and results in the determination that the patient’s condition requires an ALS level of care, even if no other ALS intervention is performed. An ALS provider or supplier is defined as a provider trained to the level of the Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate (EMT-Intermediate) or Paramedic as defined in the National Emergency Medicine Services (EMS) Education and Practice Blueprint. An ALS intervention is defined as a procedure beyond the scope of an EMT-Basic as defined in the National EMS Education and Practice Blueprint, as most recently published in the Federal Register. Advanced Life Support, Level 2 (ALS2) — when medically necessary, the administration of at least three different medications or the provision of one or more of the following ALS procedures: manual defibrillation/cardioversion, endotracheal intubation, central venous line, cardiac pacing, chest decompression, surgical airway, or intraosseus line, as most recently published in the Federal Register. Ambulance — an aircraft, boat, motor vehicle, or other means of transportation, including a dual- purpose vehicle, however named, whether privately or publicly owned, that is intended to be used for and is maintained and operated for the transportation of sick, injured, or disabled persons and that has in force a valid certificate of inspection and license issued by the Department of Public Health (DPH) as set forth in 105 CMR 170.000: Emergency Medical Services System for the implementation of M.G.L. c. 111C, regulating Ambulances and Ambulance Services (Department of Public Health). Authorized Provider — an individual authorized to sign medical necessity forms and PT-1 forms requesting transportation for MassHealth members. An authorized provider must: (1) be a physician (including an intern or resident), physician assistant, psychologist, dentist, nurse midwife, nurse practitioner enrolled in MassHealth; or (2) be a registered nurse designated and supervised by a physician enrolled in MassHealth. Basic Life Support (BLS) — when medically necessary, the provision of basic life support (BLS) services as defined in the National EMS Education and Practice Blueprint for the EMT-Basic including the establishment of a peripheral intravenous (IV) line, as most recently published in the Federal Register. Broker — an entity that, pursuant to a selective contract with Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), procures and manages non-emergency transportation services for MassHealth members in a designated area. Brokered Transportation — transportation services that are provided pursuant to a selective contract as described in 130 CMR 407.407. Day Habilitation Program Representative — a health-care professional employed by a day habilitation provider who is authorized to complete and submit PT-1 forms for MassHealth members. A day habilitation program representative must be a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse, a day habilitation service manager as described in 130 CMR 419.426(B), or a program director as described in 130 CMR 419.424: Staffing: Program Director. Early Intervention Program Representative — a health-care professional employed by an early intervention program provider who is authorized to complete and submit PT-1 forms for MassHealth members. An early intervention program representative must (1) be a registered nurse, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, a psychologist, a licensed clinical social worker, or a speech and language pathologist; and (2) satisfy the staff qualifications specific to his or her position as described in 130 CMR 440.411: Staff Qualifications. Emergency Medical Condition — a medical condition, whether physical or mental, manifesting itself by symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe pain, that the absence of prompt medical attention could reasonably be expected by a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine, to result in placing the health of the member or another person in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to body function, or serious dysfunction of any body organ or part or, with respect to a pregnant woman, as further defined in § 1867(e)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1395dd(e)(1)(B). Emergency Services — medical services that are provided by a provider that is qualified to provide such services, and are needed to evaluate or stabilize an emergency medical condition. Escort — an escort can be a parent, guardian of a child, a caretaker, a guardian of a mentally incompetent member, or an individual who physically assists a member with ambulating to and from a medical appointment. Fee-for-service Transportation — transportation services that are not provided pursuant to a selective contract. Locality — the town or city in which a member resides and the surrounding communities within 25 miles of the town or city in which the member resides. Managed-care Representative — a clinical employee of a MassHealth managed-care organization (MCO) or other MassHealth managed-care entity who has been designated to handle the transportation requests of enrolled members, including a physician or nurse practitioner; or a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or licensed social worker under the supervision of a physician or nurse practitioner. For MassHealth managed-care providers of mental health and substance abuse services, a clinical employee includes a physician or nurse practitioner; or a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or licensed social worker under the supervision of a physician or nurse practitioner, or a licensed clinical psychologist or a licensed, independent clinical social worker. Medically Necessary — a service is “medically necessary” if: (1) it is reasonably calculated to prevent, diagnose, prevent the worsening of, alleviate, correct, or cure conditions in the member that endanger life, cause suffering or pain, cause physical deformity or malfunction, threaten to cause or to aggravate a handicap, or result in an illness or infirmity; and (2) there is no other medical service or site of service, comparable in effect, available and suitable for the member requesting the service, that is more conservative or less costly to the MassHealth agency. Services that are less costly to the MassHealth agency include, but are not limited to, health care reasonably known by the provider, or identified by the MassHealth agency pursuant to a prior authorization request, to be available to the member through sources described in 130 CMR 450.317(c), 503.007: Potential Sources of Health Care or 517.007: Utilization of Potential Benefits. Medical Necessity Form (MNF) — a form designated by MassHealth documenting the medical necessity of fee-for-service transportation and its authorization by appropriate personnel. Other Licensed Carrier — any carrier, including bus, train, plane, or boat, that is licensed by the appropriate licensing board or agency. Primary Care — the provision of coordinated, comprehensive medical services, on both a first- contact and a continuous basis, to members enrolled in managed care. Services include an initial medical history intake, medical diagnosis and treatment, and the communication of information about illness prevention, health maintenance, and referral services. Provider Request for Transportation (PT-1) — a form designated by and submitted to MassHealth, used to request brokered transportation for a member. The PT-1 form documents the medical necessity of the transportation requested and its authorization by appropriate personnel. Public Transportation — mass fixed-route transportation services, including bus service, subway trains, trolleys, and commuter rail service provided to the public in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts pursuant to the authority granted to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and regional transit authorities established under M.G.L. chs. 161A and 161B. Transportation services provided by MassHealth through selective contracts with regional transit authorities are not included in the definition of public transportation. Shared Ride — transportation service provided to two or more members traveling in the same vehicle for the purpose of receiving medical services covered by MassHealth. Specialty Care Transport — a medically necessary ambulance transport, for a critically injured or ill person, to provide a level of interhospital transportation service that exceeds the scope of the ambulance paramedic’s clinical expertise as defined in the National EMS Education and Practice Blueprint. Such transportation is necessary when a person’s condition requires ongoing care that must be furnished by one or more health professionals in an appropriate specialty area (for example, nursing, emergency medicine, respiratory care, cardiovascular care) or a paramedic with additional training. Urgent Care — medical services that are not primary care, and are needed to treat a medical condition that is not an emergency medical condition. Verbal Authorization — authorization of transportation by telephone or other oral means obtained from the MassHealth agency when a Provider Request for Transportation (PT-1) form has been submitted but has not been received by the MassHealth agency or when urgent care is required. Waiting Time — the time spent by a vehicle and its driver and attendants in waiting to return a member to the point of trip origin. Waiting time applies only when the member is not in the vehicle. Wheelchair Van — a motor vehicle that is specifically equipped to carry one or more persons who are mobility-handicapped or using a wheelchair.