In simple words: This code covers the cost of an additional attendant on an ambulance, beyond the typical crew, for situations where a patient needs extra care or attention during transport.

This code represents an extra ambulance attendant to escort a patient in a ground or air advanced life support (ALS) or basic life support (BLS) ambulance transport.An extra attendant may be necessary if the patient requires special treatment and equipment, if a patient's behavior may be dangerous, if the patient requires restraint, or if the patient is extremely obese.

Example 1: A patient with severe behavioral health issues requires restraint and continuous monitoring during transport, necessitating an extra attendant., An extremely obese patient requires specialized equipment and additional personnel for safe and effective transfer to and from the ambulance., A patient receiving complex medical interventions during transport requires an extra attendant to assist with equipment management and patient monitoring.

Documentation must support the medical necessity for an extra ambulance attendant and clearly indicate the services the attendant performs.

** Check with individual payers for coverage and reporting requirements, as Medicare does not pay for this service, and other payers may have varying policies.