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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAmbulance and Other Transport Services and SuppliesHCPCS hcpcs-a0431-rotary-wing-air-ambulance-transport-one-way
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    HCPCS Level II A0431: Rotary Wing Air Ambulance Transport One-Way

    HCPCS Level II code A0431 describes a one-way rotary wing air ambulance transport for conventional air services, representing emergency or interfacility transport by helicopter; the service type is air ambulance transport (rotary wing) and the typical site of service is in-flight/air transport between incident scene and medical facility or between medical facilities.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Percutaneous Arteriovenous Fistula Creation, Dialysis Services (ESRD) Coverage and Provider Requirements, Intradialytic Parenteral Nutrition - Medical Policy.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a critically ill adult involved in a multi-vehicle crash with suspected internal hemorrhage and unstable vital signs requiring rapid en route advanced care and definitive hospital-based intervention. Emergency Medical Services on scene determine that ground transport would delay time-sensitive care; the patient is loaded into a rotary-wing air ambulance for one-way transport to a level I trauma center. Flight crew documents on-scene assessment, initiation of advanced airway management, intravenous access with blood product administration, continuous cardiac and hemodynamic monitoring, and radio/handoff to receiving trauma team. Billing uses A0431 for the one-way conventional rotary-wing transport; appropriate modifiers are appended to reflect circumstances (for example, medical necessity, bilateral services, hospital-based origin/destination, or unusual service complexity). Typical sites of service include landing zones adjacent to the scene, helipads at sending hospitals, and receiving hospital helipads or emergency departments. The clinical workflow includes scene triage, flight activation, in-flight critical care interventions, prearrival notification to the receiving facility, patient transfer to the receiving team, and completion of transport documentation required for billing and medical record continuity.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    31500Intubation, endotracheal, emergency procedurePerformed before or during rotary-wing transport for airway protection in unstable trauma or respiratory failure.
    36415Collection of venous blood by venipunctureCommonly performed preflight or in-flight for laboratory testing, crossmatch, or point-of-care analysis.
    36556Insertion of non-tunneled centrally-inserted central venous catheter; age 5 years or olderMay be performed prior to or immediately after transport for hemodynamic monitoring or administration of vasoactive agents.
    96372Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (subcutaneous or intramuscular)Used for medications administered en route such as analgesics, anticoagulants, or other injections.
    94060Continuous monitoring of respiratory status by pulse oximetry and/or capnography for higher level monitoringRepresents advanced physiologic monitoring provided during flight when billed separately per payer rules.
    99291Critical care, evaluation and management of the critically ill or critically injured patient; first 30-74 minutesRepresents critical care time provided by clinicians that may overlap with transport care in documentation and billing workflow.

    Related Modifiers

    8 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…
    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…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    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
    208U00000X
    225100000X
    207L00000X
    163W00000X
    1835C0205X
    106S00000X
    2278P4000X
    111NT0100X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Dialysis/Renal Replacement1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Percutaneous Arteriovenous Fistula CreationAmeriHealth Caritas2026-08-01
    Dialysis Services (ESRD) Coverage and Provider RequirementsMississippi Division of Medicaid2026-08-01
    Intradialytic Parenteral Nutrition - Medical PolicyHealth-New-England2026-07-01
    Total Parenteral Nutrition and Intradialytic Parenteral NutritionCentene2026-05-01
    End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD): Renal Dialysispriority health2026-02-01
    Home Hemodialysis (HHD) Coverage Criteriasierra health and life2026-01-01
    Home Hemodialysis (HHD) — Coverage CriteriaUnitedHealthcare2026-01-01
    Dialysis services (acute and chronic hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis)UnitedHealthcare2026-01-01
    Staff-Assisted Home HemodialysisCigna2025-11-15
    Parsabiv (etelcalcetide) Coverage for Secondary HyperparathyroidismMolina Healthcare2025-10-09

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-A0021-AMBULANCE-SERVICE-OUTSIDE-STATE-PER-MILE-TRANSPORT

    HCPCS A0021: Ambulance Service Outside State Per Mile, Transport (Medicaid Only)

    HCPCS-A0080-VOLUNTEER-NON-EMERGENCY-TRANSPORTATION-MILEAGE

    HCPCS Level II A0080: Non-Emergency Volunteer Vehicle Transport, Per Mile

    HCPCS-A0090-NON-EMERGENCY-TRANSPORTATION-MILE-PRIVATE-VEHICLE

    HCPCS A0090: Non-Emergency Transportation, Per Mile

    HCPCS-A0100-NON-EMERGENCY-TAXI-TRANSPORTATION

    HCPCS A0100: Non-Emergency Transportation, Taxi

    HCPCS-A0110-NON-EMERGENCY-BUS-TRANSPORTATION

    HCPCS Level II A0110: Non-Emergency Bus or Carrier Transportation

    HCPCS-A0120-NON-EMERGENCY-MINI-BUS-TRANSPORTATION

    HCPCS Level II A0120: Non‑Emergency Transportation by Mini‑Bus or Mountain Transport

    HCPCS-A0130-WHEELCHAIR-VAN-NON-EMERGENCY-TRANSPORTATION

    HCPCS Level II A0130: Non-Emergency Transportation, Wheelchair Van

    HCPCS-A0140-NON-EMERGENCY-AIR-TRANSPORTATION

    HCPCS Level II A0140: Non-Emergency Transportation and Air Travel

    HCPCS-A0160-NON-EMERGENCY-TRANSPORTATION-CASE-WORKER-SOCIAL-WORKER-PER-MILE

    HCPCS Level II A0160: Non-Emergency Transportation by Case Worker

    HCPCS-A0180-ANCILLARY-LODGING-NON-EMERGENCY-TRANSPORTATION

    HCPCS Level II A0180: Non-Emergency Transportation Lodging-Recipient

    Showing 1–10 of 40

    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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