A word about Medicare reimbursement for medical transportation
In most cases Medicare will not reimburse for non-emergency transportation. They will only pay for a medically necessary transport to the closest medical facility, usually in an emergent situation. The need for a stretcher does not constitute a medical necessity. It is fraudulent for an ambulance service to file for Medicare in a non-emergency setting and claim that they performed a procedure on a patient that they did not do.
If you seek reimbusement, be sure to file a request before the transport and be prepared to defend your request proving the air or ground transport is medically necessary with letters from the transferring and receiving physician
