Medicare program; coverage of ambulance services and vehicle and staff requirements. Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS. Final rule with comment period

This final rule with comment period revises and updates Medicare policy concerning ambulance services. It identifies destinations to which ambulance services are covered, establishes requirements for the vehicles and staff used to furnish ambulance services, and clarifies coverage of nonemergency ambulance services for Medicare beneficiaries. This rule also implements section 4531 (c) of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 concerning Medicare coverage for paramedic intercept services in rural communities.