CommercialCoverageMedium impact
Ambulance: Land/Ground 10.01.07
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield·NY · Emergency Medicine, Critical Care·Miscellaneous
Effective date
Mar 19, 2026
We identified it
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield updated their ambulance land/ground transportation policy effective March 19, 2026, establishing specific criteria for emergency and non-emergent ambulance services coverage. The policy requires NYS certified ambulance services and mandates that alternative transportation must be medically contraindicated for coverage approval.
Action Required
By March 19, 2026: Billing team must ensure all ambulance claims meet the updated criteria - verify ambulance service has NYS Public Health Law certification, document medical contraindication for alternative transport, and confirm transport to nearest appropriate facility. Update pre-authorization processes for interfacility transfers as contract-dependent. Claims not meeting these criteria will be denied as not medically necessary.