In simple words: This code covers the cost of meals for someone accompanying a patient during non-emergency medical transportation.

This code represents the extra costs for the meals an escort incurs that is associated with a non-emergency transport service. Non-emergency transportation allows a patient to travel from one location to another for non-emergency medical purposes. The patient usually travels to and from the nearest appropriate facility to obtain only necessary diagnostic and/or therapeutic services. Appropriate facilities may include hospitals, critical access hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, dialysis facilities, or the patient’s home. Report this code for the meal costs an escort incurs during a non-emergency transport.

Example 1: A patient requires non-emergency transport to a dialysis facility and is accompanied by an escort. The transport takes several hours, and the escort incurs meal expenses., An elderly patient needs non-emergency transport to a specialist appointment in another city and is accompanied by a family member as an escort.The trip requires an overnight stay, and the escort's meal costs are included., A child is transported for non-emergency medical care and is accompanied by a parent. The transport involves a long distance, and the parent incurs meal costs during the journey.

Documentation should support the medical necessity of the non-emergency transport and the presence of an escort.The reason for the escort should be documented.Receipts or documentation of meal expenses may be required by some payers.

** Medicare does not pay for this code. Coverage and payment policies vary among other payers.Always verify coverage with the specific payer prior to billing.