In simple words: This code covers the cost of a hotel room for someone who needs to travel with a patient receiving non-emergency medical transportation.

This code represents the extra costs for lodging that an escort incurs that are associated with a non-emergency transport service.It covers room accommodations for the caseworker, escort, or parent accompanying the patient. This situation may occur when a patient travels to another location for medical evaluation and the attending provider wants to admit them to a hospital the following day or when ongoing appointments are necessary.

Example 1: A child needs non-emergency transport to a specialty hospital several hours away for evaluation. The child's parent needs lodging near the hospital to be available during the evaluation and potential admission., An elderly patient requires non-emergency transport to a long-term care facility out of state. A family member travels with them and requires lodging during the transition., A patient travels for specialized diagnostic testing. The escort needs overnight lodging due to a late testing schedule and the need for early morning follow-up.

Documentation should support the medical necessity of the escort accompanying the patient and the necessity of the lodging, linking it to the non-emergency transport.

** Medicare does not pay for this service. Check with other payers regarding coverage policies for lodging associated with non-emergency medical transport.