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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesCognitive Assessment and Care Plan ServicesCPT cpt-99486-pediatric-interfacility-transport-supervision-30min
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    CPT 99486: Supervision of Critical Pediatric Transport, ≤24 Months

    CPT code 99486 describes physician supervision of the interfacility transport of a critically ill or injured child 24 months of age or younger for an additional 30 minutes, including pre-transport communication, ongoing communication during transport, interpretation of patient data relayed by the transport team, and communication upon arrival; service type is pediatric critical care transport supervision and the typical site of service is interfacility transport between hospitals or from a hospital to a higher-level pediatric center.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Ambulance and Medical Transport Services (Ground, Air and Water) Corporate Medical Policy, Emergency Air/Water Ambulance Services Medical Guideline, Non-Emergent Ambulance Services.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A critically ill 18-month-old infant with severe viral bronchiolitis requires transfer from a community hospital emergency department to a pediatric tertiary care center for advanced respiratory support. The sending emergency physician discusses the infant's condition with the receiving pediatric intensivist, initiates a supervised interfacility transport, and the receiving physician assumes remote medical direction. The receiving physician communicates with the transport team before departure to review the clinical status and transfer plan, monitors telemetry and vital signs relayed during the ambulance or fixed-wing/rotary transfer, provides adjustments to ventilator or medication orders as clinically indicated while in transit, and conducts a verbal handoff on arrival to the receiving facility. The workflow includes: pre-transport case review and verbal orders, continuous interpretation of patient data communicated by the transport team during the additional 30-minute supervision interval, documentation of communications and clinical decisions in the receiving facility record, and confirmation of patient arrival and condition at the receiving facility.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    99486The provider supervises the transport of a critically ill or injured child 24 months of age or younger between facilities for an additional 30 minutes. He communicates with the transport team before transport, during transport, and upon arrival at the receiving facility. He interprets patient data relayed by the transport team.Primary procedure code describing remote medical direction and supervision for pediatric interfacility transport for the specified 30-minute interval.
    99490Chronic care management services, at least 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a physician or other qualified health care professional, per calendar month, with a specified care plan.Not a transport code; sometimes billed for concurrent remote care management activities but generally not performed during acute transport.
    99366Medical team conference with interdisciplinary team of health professionals, face-to-face with patient and/or family, each additional 30 minutes (list separately in addition to code for primary service).May be used for extended interdisciplinary discussions about critical pediatric patients, but not specific to transport supervision.
    G0180Physician certification for skilled nursing facility or home health (example code; local coverage may vary).Not directly related; included to indicate other physician communication/certification services that may occur in transitions of care.

    Note: Related CPT codes beyond 99486 are limited in direct applicability; other transport, critical care, and telemedicine services may be documented depending on local payer rules and clinical workflow.

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    82Modifier 82 is appended to a surgical CPT code to indicate that an attending physician acted as an assistant because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable. In teaching hospitals it documents…- When to use: Append modifier 82 in teaching-hospital settings to indicate a physician served as an assistant surgeon because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable (includes situations where…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208000000X
    363L00000X
    207L00000X
    2278P1004X
    247100000X
    163WD1100X
    207LH0002X
    2251C2600X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A41.9Sepsis, unspecified organism
    E86.0Dehydration
    G93.49Other encephalopathy
    I46.9Cardiac arrest, cause unspecified
    J18.9Pneumonia, unspecified organism
    J95.821Acute postprocedural respiratory failure
    J96.00Acute respiratory failure, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia
    J96.10Chronic respiratory failure, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia
    P07.30Preterm newborn, unspecified weeks of gestation
    P07.32Preterm newborn, gestational age 29 completed weeks

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Emergency & Medical Transportation1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Ambulance and Medical Transport Services (Ground, Air and Water) Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-10-01
    Emergency Air/Water Ambulance Services Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    Non-Emergent Ambulance ServicesConnectiCare2026-09-11
    Fixed Wing Air Ambulance TransportCigna2026-08-15
    Air AmbulanceAmbetter Georgia2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for New Mexico Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for Tennessee Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Clinical Policy: Air AmbulanceAmbetter Nevada2026-08-01
    Air AmbulanceCentene2026-08-01
    Clinical Policy: Air AmbulanceArizona Complete Health2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-99483-COMPREHENSIVE-COGNITIVE-ASSESSMENT-GERIATRIC

    CPT 99483: Comprehensive Cognitive Assessment and Care Planning

    CPT-99484-BEHAVIORAL-HEALTH-CARE-COORDINATION-CLINICAL-STAFF

    CPT 99484: Behavioral Health Care Management by Clinical Staff

    CPT-99485-PEDIATRIC-CRITICAL-CARE-TRANSPORT-SUPERVISION

    CPT 99485: Supervision of Interfacility Transport for Critically Ill or Injured Infant

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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