Non-emergency air ambulance services require authorization starting April 2, 2018, for commercial members

Effective for dates of service on or after April 2, 2018, all non-emergency air ambulance transports for Blue Cross PPO (commercial) and Blue Care Network HMO^SM (commercial) members require authorization. Requests for authorization must be submitted to Alacura Medical Transportation Management, LLC, prior to the flight. Information about the process to use in submitting these requests will be made available closer to the April effective date.

This requirement applies to both in-state and out-of-state air ambulance transports.

Blue Cross and BCN are partnering with Alacura to provide review of non-emergency air ambulance flights. Alacura will use the Blue Cross and BCN medical policy titled Air Ambulance Services to determine the appropriateness of non-emergency flights.

There are no changes to member benefits related to air ambulance services. Non-emergency air ambulance services are eligible for reimbursement if the member has the benefit and if Alacura authorizes the flight.

Reason for this change: Air ambulance transports that are not medically necessary or that are flown by noncontracted providers expose Blue Cross and BCN members to significantly greater out-of-pocket costs and are much costlier for the plan. The requirement for authorization prior to non-emergency flights is expected to lower costs for Blue Cross and BCN members and customers.

Billing air ambulance claims: As a reminder, instructions for billing emergency and non-emergency air ambulance services for dates of service on or after Jan. 1, 2017, are now available. For the details, see the web-DENIS message posted Jan. 12, 2018, titled "Air ambulance billing instructions are now available."

Posted: January 2018
Line of business: Blue Cross and Blue Care Network