2025 HCPCS code A0888
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Transportation - Noncovered ambulance mileage Ambulance and Other Transport Services and Supplies Feed
This code represents the mileage exceeding the distance to the nearest appropriate facility during ambulance transport.
Medical necessity is highly dependent on the specific circumstances.While the transport to the further facility must be medically necessary, Medicare generally only covers transport to the nearest appropriate facility, meaning additional mileage might not be covered unless there is a compelling medical justification. State Medicaid programs have varying policies.
The clinical responsibility lies with the ambulance provider and the transporting medical personnel ensuring safe and timely transport of the patient.
In simple words: This code covers the extra miles an ambulance travels when it takes a patient to a hospital or other facility that's farther away than the closest one.Medicare doesn't pay for these extra miles.
HCPCS code A0888 represents the total mileage exceeding the distance to the closest appropriate facility when an ambulance transports a patient to a facility that is not the nearest suitable option.Appropriate facilities include hospitals, critical access hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, dialysis centers, or the patient's home.This code is used to bill for the extra miles traveled beyond the closest appropriate facility.
Example 1: A patient in a rural area experiences a medical emergency. The closest appropriate facility is a small rural hospital, but the patient requires specialized care available only at a larger hospital 50 miles away.Code A0888 would bill for the additional 50 miles beyond the nearest appropriate facility., An ambulance transports a patient from a remote accident site to the nearest hospital.Due to road closures caused by an unforeseen event, the ambulance is forced to take a longer route.Code A0888 is used to bill for the extra distance traveled due to the unforeseen circumstances., A patient requires transport to a specific hospital because their attending physician's office is located there. This is not the nearest hospital.Code A0888 may be used to bill for the additional mileage.However, it is important to note that coverage is not guaranteed by Medicare in this situation. State Medicaid programs might have variable coverage policies.
Detailed documentation of the patient's condition, the reason for choosing a farther facility over the nearest appropriate facility, the exact mileage traveled, and a map showing the route is required for billing.
** Coverage for this code varies significantly by payer and state.Always check individual payer guidelines and state Medicaid policies for reimbursement rules before billing.
- Payment Status: Not covered by Medicare
- Specialties:Emergency Medical Services
- Place of Service:Ambulance - Land, Ambulance - Air or Water