Summary & Overview
HCPCS T2049: Non-Emergency Stretcher Van Transport, Per Mile
HCPCS Level II code T2049 represents non-emergency transportation provided by a stretcher van, billed on a per-mile basis. This code is used when patients require a stretcher for ground transport but do not need ambulance-level emergency services. Nationally, stretcher-van mileage codes matter for coverage determinations, member access to appropriate non-emergent transport, and consistent claims processing for mobility-impaired populations.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the code's clinical context and service setting, typical payer coverage considerations, common modifiers associated with transport claims, and guidance on where to find policy updates. The publication summarizes benchmark guidance and common billing practices related to mileage-based stretcher transport and highlights policy and documentation issues that affect claim adjudication.
This summary is intended for revenue cycle, compliance, and clinical staff seeking a national-level reference on stretcher-van mileage billing. The content focuses on the code definition, service context, payer scope, and the types of information stakeholders typically track when managing non-emergency stretcher transport claims.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code T2049 describes non-emergency transportation by stretcher van billed per mile. The service type is non-emergency stretcher van transport (mileage-based). The typical site of service is patient transport via stretcher-equipped ground vehicle, commonly used for ambulation-limited patients requiring a stretcher for interfacility transfers, outpatient appointments, or other non-emergent medical transport needs.
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A patient who requires non-emergency stretcher transport presents for inter-facility transfer or scheduled outpatient care that cannot be accomplished in a wheelchair or ambulatory vehicle. Typical patients include those with limited mobility due to recent surgical procedures, unstable spine injuries, severe deconditioning, obesity with inability to sit safely, or medical devices that require a supine position (for example, continuous infusions or certain wound vac arrangements). The workflow begins with the ordering clinician documenting the medical necessity for stretcher transport and the destination, obtaining authorization as required by the patient’s payor, and arranging a licensed non-emergency medical transport provider. At pickup, trained transport personnel confirm patient identity, stabilize the patient on the stretcher, secure infusion or monitoring equipment, record mileage for the trip, and transfer the patient to the receiving facility or scheduled appointment. Documentation supporting billing includes the physician or authorized clinician’s order for stretcher transport, reason transport by stretcher is medically necessary (unable to sit, requires supine monitoring/treatment), pickup and drop-off locations, date and times, total miles traveled, and the transport provider’s trip record. Billing uses the HCPCS Level II code T2049 for stretcher van mileage, with applicable modifiers appended when relevant to reflect circumstances such as unusual services, ownership, or beneficiary status.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 |