§ 2590.717-2 Independent dispute resolution process for air ambulance services.

(a) Definitions. Unless otherwise stated, the definitions in § 2590.716–3 apply.

(b) Determination of out-of-network rates to be paid by health plans and health insurance issuers; independent dispute resolution process —

(1) In general. Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this section, in determining the out-of-network rate to be paid by group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group health insurance coverage for out-of-network air ambulance services, plans and issuers must comply with the requirements of § 2590.716–8, except that references in § 2590.716–8 to the additional circumstances in § 2590.716–8(c)(4)(iii)(B) shall be understood to refer to paragraph (b)(2) of this section.

(2) Considerations for air ambulance services. In determining which offer to select, in addition to considering the applicable qualifying payment amount(s), the certified IDR entity must consider information submitted by a party that relates to the following circumstances:

(i) The quality and outcomes measurements of the provider that furnished the services.

(ii) The acuity of the condition of the participant or beneficiary receiving the service, or the complexity of furnishing the service to the participant or beneficiary.

(iii) The training, experience, and quality of the medical personnel that furnished the air ambulance services.

(iv) Ambulance vehicle type, including the clinical capability level of the vehicle.

(v) Population density of the point of pick-up (as defined in 42 CFR 414.605) for the air ambulance (such as urban, suburban, rural, or frontier).

(vi) Demonstrations of good faith efforts (or lack thereof) made by the nonparticipating provider of air ambulance services or the plan or issuer to enter into network agreements with each other and, if applicable, contracted rates between the provider of air ambulance services and the plan or issuer, as applicable, during the previous 4 plan years.

(3) Weighing considerations. In weighing the considerations described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the certified IDR entity should evaluate whether the information is credible and relates to the offer submitted by either party for the payment amount for the qualified IDR service that is the subject of the payment determination. The certified IDR entity should not give weight to information to the extent it is not credible, it does not relate to either party's offer for the payment amount for the qualified IDR service, or it is already accounted for by the qualifying payment amount under § 2590.716–8(c)(4)(iii)(A) or other credible information under § 2590.716–8(c)(4)(iii)(B) through (D), except that the additional circumstances in § 2590.716–8(c)(4)(iii)(B) shall be understood to refer to paragraph (b)(2) of this section.

(4) Reporting of information relating to the IDR process. In applying the requirements of § 2590.716–8(f), within 30 business days of the close of each month, for services furnished on or after January 1, 2022, the information the certified IDR entity must report, in a form and manner specified by the Secretary, with respect to the Federal IDR process involving air ambulance services is:

(i) The number of notices of IDR initiation submitted under the Federal IDR process to the certified IDR entity that pertain to air ambulance services during the immediately preceding month;

(ii) The number of such notices of IDR initiation with respect to which a final determination was made under § 2590.716–8(c)(4)(ii) of this part (as applied by paragraph (b)(1) of this section);

(iii) The number of times the payment amount determined (or agreed to) under this subsection has exceeded the qualifying payment amount, specified by services;

(iv) With respect to each notice of IDR initiation under § 2590.716–8(b)(2) of this part (as applied by paragraph (b)(1) of this section) for which a determination was made, the following information:

(A) A description of each air ambulance service included in such notification, including the relevant billing and service codes;

(B) The point of pick-up (as defined in 42 CFR 414.605) for the services included in such notification;

(C) The amount of the offers submitted under § 2590.716–8(c)(4)(i) (as applied by paragraph (b)(1) of this section) by the group health plan or health insurance issuer (as applicable) and by the nonparticipating provider of air ambulance services, expressed as a dollar amount and as a percentage of the qualifying payment amount;

(D) Whether the offer selected by the certified IDR entity under § 2590.716–8(c)(4)(ii) of this part (as applied by paragraph (b)(1) of this section) to be the payment amount applied was the offer submitted by the plan or issuer (as applicable) or by the provider of air ambulance services;

(E) The amount of the selected offer expressed as a dollar amount and as a percentage of the qualifying payment amount;

(F) The rationale for the certified IDR entity's decision, including the extent to which the decision relied on the criteria in paragraph (b)(2) of this section and § 2590.716–8(c)(4)(iii)(C) and (D);

(G) Air ambulance vehicle type, including the clinical capability level of such vehicle (to the extent this information has been provided to the certified IDR entity);

(H) The identity for each plan or issuer and provider of air ambulance services, with respect to the notification. Specifically, each certified IDR entity must provide each party's name and address, as applicable; and

(I) For each determination, the number of business days elapsed between selection of the certified IDR entity and the selection of the payment amount by the certified IDR entity.

(v) The total amount of certified IDR entity fees paid to the certified IDR entity under paragraph § 2590.716–8(d)(1) of this part (as applied by paragraph (b)(1) of this section) during the month for determinations involving air ambulance services.

(c) Applicability date. The provisions of this section are applicable with respect to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, except that paragraphs (b)(1), (2), and (3) and (b)(4)(iv)(F) of this section regarding payment determinations are applicable with respect to services provided or furnished on or after October 25, 2022, for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2022.

[86 FR 56121, Oct. 7, 2021, as amended at 87 FR 52651, Aug. 26, 2022]