CurrentAlaska MedicaidPolicy N/A

Policy Clarification for Air Ambulance Wing-to-Wing Transfers

Defines billing rules for air ambulance wing-to-wing transfers and mixed fixed/rotary transfers for Alaska Medicaid providers (Provider Type 102).

Policy Summary

PayerAlaska Medicaid

PolicyAir ambulance wing-to-wing and mixed fixed/rotary transfer billing rules

Policy CodePolicy N/A

Change TypeOperational billing clarification

Effective DateN/A

Next Review DateN/A

Key ActionBill the entire transport on a single claim, include only one lift-off fee, and report patient loaded statute miles to the tenth of a mile on that claim.

SourceLink

POLICY UPDATE CHANGES

No material clinical or coverage changes in this revision.

1lift-off fee allowed per wing-to-wing transfer claim

1claim per entire transport (multiple claims will be denied)

0.1mile precision required (patient loaded statute miles to tenth of a mile)

2separate mileage lines when both fixed and rotary used

Air Ambulance Transfer Billing Rules

Air ambulance transfer billing rules

Billing criteria for wing-to-wing and mixed aircraft transfers

Entire transport must be billed on a single claim; multiple claims will be denied.

Include only one lift-off fee on the claim; additional lift-off fees will be denied.

Report patient-loaded statute miles to the tenth of a mile on the same claim as the lift-off fee.0.1

ALL of the following

Bill the lift-off fee using the procedure code that aligns with the aircraft (fixed or rotary) that provided the greater total patient-loaded miles.

Policy Summary

PayerAlaska Medicaid

PolicyAir ambulance wing-to-wing and mixed fixed/rotary transfer billing rules

Policy CodePolicy N/A

Change TypeOperational billing clarification

Effective DateN/A

Next Review DateN/A

Key ActionBill the entire transport on a single claim, include only one lift-off fee, and report patient loaded statute miles to the tenth of a mile on that claim.

SourceLink

On This Page

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Billing and Claim Filing Requirements for Providers

Billing Rule

Wing-to-wing transfer billing requirements

A wing-to-wing transfer occurs when the air ambulance lands en route to the destination to transfer the patient to another aircraft. When a wing-to-wing transfer occurs providers must follow these billing rules to avoid denial.

Bill the entire transport on a single claim; multiple claims will be denied.
Include only one lift-off fee on the claim; additional lift-off fees will be denied.
Report patient-loaded statute miles to the tenth of a mile on the same claim as the lift-off fee.

Billing Rule

Mixed fixed/rotary transfer billing

When a transfer involves both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, bill so that the lift-off fee aligns with the aircraft that provided the greater total patient-loaded miles and split mileage lines by aircraft type.

Bill the lift-off procedure code (fixed or rotary) that corresponds to the aircraft providing the greater total patient-loaded miles.
Report patient-loaded statute miles on two separate lines: one line for rotary-wing miles and one line for fixed-wing miles, each to the tenth of a mile.
Example billing for a transfer where rotary then fixed wing complete the transport:
• Lift-off fee: 1 unit of A0430 TN (rural designation based on patient initial pick-up location).
• Rotary wing mileage: 14.3 units of A0436 TN.
• Fixed wing mileage: 260.9 units of A0435 TN.

Key Definitions

Wing-to-wing transfer

DefinitionA wing-to-wing transfer occurs when the air ambulance must land while in route to the destination for the purpose of transferring to another aircraft.

Billing requirement - claimsBill the entire transport on a single claim; multiple claims will be denied.

Billing requirement - lift-off feeInclude only one lift-off fee on the claim; additional lift-off fees will be denied.

Billing requirement - mileageReport patient loaded statute miles to the tenth of a mile on the same claim as the lift-off fee.

Mixed fixed/rotary transfer

DefinitionWhen both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft are used in a transport, patient loaded statute miles must be split on separate lines by aircraft type (one line for rotary, one line for fixed).

Lift-off fee assignmentBill the lift-off fee (A0430 TN) aligned with the aircraft that provided the greater total patient-loaded miles.

ExampleExample billing: 1 unit A0430 TN (lift-off), 14.3 units A0436 TN (rotary miles), 260.9 units A0435 TN (fixed miles).

OpenPayer

Policy Clarification for Air Ambulance Wing-to-Wing Transfers

Air Ambulance Transfer Billing Rules

Codes and Mileage Reporting

Billing and Claim Filing Requirements for Providers

Key Definitions

A0430 TN	Lift-off fee (rural designation based on patient initial pick-up location)
A0436 TN	Rotary wing aircraft mileage (patient loaded statute miles)
A0435 TN	Fixed wing aircraft mileage (patient loaded statute miles)