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Non-emergency transport
This would include trips to a doctor’s office or other medical facility such as a personal care home of medical clinic. Each patient needs a Certificate of Medical Necessity in order to qualify for a non-emergency transport by ambulance. The following would categorized what is needed to qualify for a non-emergency ambulance transport:
- The patient is bed confined; or
- The patient must not be able to get out of bed with or without assistance;or
- The patient must not be able to walk; or
- The patient must not be able to sit in a chair, including a wheelchair; or
- The patient had to remain immobile because of a fracture that had not been set or the possibility of a fracture (e.g., hip fracture); or
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- The patient is in a body cast; or
- The patient has signs and symptoms of severe pain or distress or a medical condition or conditions that would be exacerbated by transport other than ambulance; or
- The patient must remain in a supine position; or
- The patient must be removed by stretcher because of a specific physical condition or limitation.
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The condition of the patient at the time of the ambulance pick-up will be the determining factor.
Emergency care and transport
This would encompass anything that a layperson would consider an emergency.
Medicare categorizes the following to be an emergency: uncontrolled bleeding, chest pain, difficulty breathing, unconscious or in shock, had to be restrained, and required emergency treatment enroute.
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