PDFWAC 182-546-2500

Transportation to or from out-of-state treatment facilities—Coordination of benefits.

(1) The medical assistance administration (MAA) does not pay for a client's transportation to or from an out-of-state treatment facility when the medical service, treatment, or procedure sought by the client is available from an in-state facility or in a designated bordering city, whether or not the client has other insurance coverage.
(2) For clients who are otherwise eligible for out-of-state coverage under WAC 388-546-0150, but have other third-party insurance, MAA does not pay for transportation to or from out-of-state treatment facilities when the client's primary insurance:
(a) Denies the client's request for medical services out-of-state for lack of medical necessity; or
(b) Denies the client's request for transportation for lack of medical necessity.
(3) For clients who are otherwise eligible for out-of-state coverage under WAC 388-546-0150, but have other third-party insurance, MAA does not consider requests for transportation to or from out-of-state treatment facilities unless the client has tried all of the following:
(a) Requested coverage of the benefit from his/her primary insurer and been denied;
(b) Appealed the denial of coverage by the primary insurer; and
(c) Exhausted his/her administrative remedies through the primary insurer.
(4) If MAA authorizes transportation to or from an out-of-state treatment facility for a client with other third-party insurance, MAA's liability is limited to the cost of the least costly means of transportation that does not jeopardize the client's health, as determined by MAA in consultation with the client's referring physician.
(5) For clients eligible for out-of-state coverage but have other third-party insurance, MAA considers requests for transportation to or from out-of-state treatment facilities under the provisions of WAC 388-501-0165.
[WSR 11-14-075, recodified as § 182-546-2500, filed 6/30/11, effective 7/1/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.09.510. WSR 04-17-118, § 388-546-2500, filed 8/17/04, effective 9/17/04.]