All PlansCoverageMedium impact
Ambulance: Air 11.01.06
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield·Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, OB-GYN +1 more·Miscellaneous
Effective date
Mar 19, 2026
We identified it
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
New air ambulance policy establishes strict medical necessity criteria for coverage, requiring immediate/rapid transport needs that cannot be met by ground ambulance, with specific guidelines for hospital-to-hospital transfers and emergency situations.
Action Required
By March 19, 2026: Billing team must review all air ambulance claims to ensure they meet new medical necessity criteria including inaccessible pickup locations or time-critical conditions where ground transport would endanger patient health. Update prior authorization processes for interfacility transfers as contract-dependent. Ensure Pre-Hospital Care Reports accompany claims when required by member contracts.