PDFWAC 182-546-5100

Nonemergency transportation—Definitions.

The following definitions and those found in chapter 182-500 WAC apply to nonemergency medical brokered transportation. Unless otherwise defined in WAC 182-546-5200 through 182-546-6000, medical terms are used as commonly defined within the scope of professional medical practice in the state of Washington.
"Against medical advice (AMA)" - When a client elects to discharge from a health care facility against the advice of medical professionals.
"Ambulance" - See WAC 182-546-0125.
"Broker" - An organization or entity contracted with the agency to arrange nonemergency transportation and related services for clients.
"Drop off point" - The location authorized by the transportation broker for the client's trip to end.
"Escort" - A person authorized by the transportation broker to accompany and be transported with a client to a health care service. An escort's transportation may be authorized depending on the client's age, mental state or capacity, safety requirements, mobility skills, communication skills, or cultural issues.
"Guardian" - A person who is legally responsible for a client and who may be required to be present when a client is receiving health care services.
"Local community" - The client's city or town of residence or nearest location to residence.
"Local provider" - A provider, as defined in WAC 182-500-0085, who delivers covered health care service within the client's local community, and the treatment facility where the services are delivered within the client's local community.
"Lodging and meals" - Temporary housing and meals provided during a client's out-of-area medical stay.
"Mode" - A method of transportation assistance used by the general public that an individual client can use in a specific situation. Methods that may be considered include, but are not limited to:
• Air transport;
• Public bus;
• Commercial bus;
• Ferries/water taxis;
• Gas vouchers/gas cards;
• Grouped or shared-ride vehicles;
• Mileage reimbursement;
• Parking;
• Stretcher vans or cars;
• Taxi;
• Tickets;
• Tolls;
• Train;
• Volunteer drivers;
• Walking or other personal conveyance; and
• Wheelchair vans.
"Noncompliance or noncompliant" - When a client:
• Fails to appear at the pickup point of the trip at the scheduled pickup time;
• Misuses or abuses agency-paid medical, transportation, or other services;
• Fails to comply with the rules, procedures, or policies of the agency or those of the agency's transportation brokers, the brokers' subcontracted transportation providers, or health care service providers;
• Poses a direct threat to the health or safety of self or others; or
• Engages in violent, seriously disruptive, or illegal conduct.
"Pickup point" - The location authorized by the agency's transportation broker for the client's trip to begin.
"Return trip" - The return of the client to the client's residence, or another authorized drop-off point, from the location where a covered health care service has occurred.
"Service animal" - An animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The work or task an animal has been trained to provide must be directly related to the individual's disability. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the American with Disabilities Act.
"Stretcher car or van" - A vehicle that can legally transport a client in a prone or supine position when the client does not require medical attention en route.
"Stretcher trip" - A transportation service that requires a client to be transported in a prone or supine position without medical attention during the trip. This may be by stretcher, board, gurney, or other appropriate device. Medical or safety requirements must be the basis for transporting a client in the prone or supine position.
"Transportation provider" - A person or company under contract with a broker to provide trips to eligible clients.
"Trip" - Transportation one-way from the pickup point to the drop off point by an authorized transportation provider.
"Urgent care" - An unplanned appointment for a covered medical service with verification from an attending physician or facility that the client must be seen that day or the following day.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, 42 C.F.R. §§ 431.53 and 440.170. WSR 23-17-118, § 182-546-5100, filed 8/18/23, effective 9/18/23; WSR 20-05-066, § 182-546-5100, filed 2/14/20, effective 3/16/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160. WSR 16-12-022, § 182-546-5100, filed 5/20/16, effective 6/20/16; WSR 15-03-050, § 182-546-5100, filed 1/14/15, effective 2/14/15. WSR 11-17-032, recodified as § 182-546-5100, filed 8/9/11, effective 8/9/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.09.500. WSR 11-15-029, § 388-546-5100, filed 7/12/11, effective 8/12/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.09.500, and 74.09.035. WSR 08-08-064, § 388-546-5100, filed 3/31/08, effective 5/1/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.500, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, and 74.04.057. WSR 01-06-029, § 388-546-5100, filed 3/2/01, effective 4/2/01.]