Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) is reminding our provider community that air and water ambulance transport is a covered service only if:
- The facility to which the individual is transferred is the nearest with appropriate capabilities to treat the member’s condition.
- The transport is medically necessary and appropriate.
To streamline air and water ambulance non-urgent requests, BCBSND kindly asks providers to submit the following with each prior authorization/ precertification request.
- Documentation as to the medical condition requiring transportation, and why it cannot be provided by land ambulance.
- Verification that the air and water ambulance transported to the nearest appropriate medical facility, except for well-documented extraordinary circumstances (example: blizzard conditions).
If the transport is not going to the closest medical facility, documentation must show that closer facilities were contacted and did not have capacity and/or bed availability to meet the member’s needs. Thank you for taking these proactive steps to care for the people of our communities.
