(1) The department pays for emergency ambulance transportation provided to eligible Washington state fee-for-service medical assistance clients who are in another state or U.S. territory when the emergency medical situation occurs according to the provisions of WAC 388-501-0180, 388-501-0182, and 388-502-0120.

(2) To receive payment from the department, an out-of-state ambulance provider must:

(a) Meet the licensing requirements of the ambulance provider's home state or province; and

(b) Have a signed agreement with the department.

(3) The department pays for emergency ambulance transportation provided out of state for an eligible Washington state medical assistance client under fee-for-service when the transport is:

(a) Within the scope of the client's medical care program;

(b) Medically necessary as defined in WAC 388-500-0005; and

(c) To the nearest appropriate treatment facility.

(4) The department does not pay for an ambulance transport provided in another state for a fee-for-service Washington state medical assistance client when:

(a) The client's medical eligibility program covers medical services within Washington state and/or designated bordering cities only. See WAC 388-546-0150 and 388-546-0200(5);

(b) The ambulance transport was nonemergent and was not prior authorized by the department.

(5) The department pays for emergency ambulance transportation at the lower of:

(a) The provider's billed amount; or

(b) The rate established by the department.

(6) To receive payment from the department for a nonemergency transport, an ambulance provider, who transports a Washington state medical assistance client to a facility that is out of state or brings a client into the state from a location that is out of state, must obtain prior authorization from the department.

(7) The department pays a negotiated rate for a medically necessary nonemergency interstate ambulance transport that the department has prior authorized. The ambulance provider is responsible for ensuring that all medical services necessary for the client's safety during the transport are available on-board the vehicle or aircraft. The contractual amount for a nonemergency air ambulance transport may include:

(a) The cost of medically necessary ground ambulance transport from the discharging facility to the point-of-pickup (airstrip); and

(b) The cost of medically necessary ground ambulance transport from the landing point (airstrip) to the receiving facility.

(8) The department does not pay to transport clients under the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) program to or from locations outside the state of Washington. For ITA purposes, transports to or from designated bordering cities are not covered. See WAC 388-546-4000.

(9) The department requires out-of-state ground ambulance providers who transport a Washington state medical assistance client into, within, or outside the state of Washington, to comply with RCW 18.73.180 regarding stretcher transportation.