Welcome to the PWW Ambulance Billing/Medicare Resource Page. This page contains the web's most comprehensive and up-to-date site for critical information regarding Medicare and other ambulance billing issues.

CMS Transmittal 706 - Retroactive Medicare Increases to Ambulance Rates

The long-awaited CMS instructions to MACs for processing the retroactive ambulance increases added by the healthcare reform law

CMS Changes Stance Regarding Coverage of Transportation Services Under Certain State Medicaid Plans

In an unexpected move, CMS completely changed its position regarding a December 3, 2008 Final Rule that would have allowed states to amend their benchmark and benchmark-equivalent Medicaid plans to exclude coverage of non-emergency transportation services as of July 1, 2010.

Healthcare Reform Legislation Becomes Law

The President has signed the most sweeping healthcare legislation into law since Medicare was passed in 1965. Ambulance services need to become aware of big changes on the horizon.

CMS Posts Final Rule: State Flexibility for Medicaid Benefit Packages

CMS published the “State Flexibility for Medicaid Benefit Packages” Final Rule (73 FR 73694 – 73727) implementing a provision of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (“DRA”). A copy is attached with relevant portions bookmarked and highlighted. While many of our comments to the Proposed Rule received honorable mention, CMS decided to implement the Proposed Rule without modification, effective February 2, 2009.

CMS Final Rule Regarding Ambulance Signature Requirements

In November 2008, Medicare released the Final Rule that contains more changes to the beneficiary signature requirements contained in 42 CFR §424.36.

Red Flag Rules

The Red Flag Rules are new regulations that would require most ambulance services to implement and administer an Identity Theft Prevention Program (“Program”) by November 1, 2008. A recent extension has been issued, pushing back the compliance deadline to May 1, 2009.

CMS Proposes Changes to Signature Rule and Other Regulations

Medicare - for the second time in a little over 6 months - is proposing further changes to the beneficiary signature regulations. This article provides an overview of the proposed changes and a link to the language of the Proposed Rule.

New 2008 Medicare ABN Form and Instructions

Sample Signature Forms

Patient Signature Requirements Significantly Changed in Medicare Final Rule

GAO Releases Long Awaited Ambulance Cost Study

CMS Releases Advance Copy of Ambulance Final Rule

CMS Proposed Rule: Revisions to the Payment Policies of Ambulance Services Under the Fee Schedule

Medicare Condition Codes - CMS Transmittal 789

Federal Register Notice - 2006 Ambulance Inflation Factor

Medicare ABN Rules - Program Memorandum AB-02-168

Sample Medicare ABN Form

Original Medicare Fee Schedule Regulations