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April 2019

Prior approval needed for FEP non-emergency air ambulance transportation

As of Jan. 1, 2019, Federal Employee Program® Service Benefit Plan members must receive prior approval for non-emergency air ambulance transportation.

For non-emergency requests
We must review the service for medical necessity before we can apply the benefit. Your clinical information to support a request should answer:

  • Why the member needs to be transferred to another facility
  • Why he or she wants to use this form of transportation
  • Why the destination hospital was chosen

If the request is urgent, a response will be provided within 24 hours. After review, we’ll either approve or deny the request.

For emergency requests
Air ambulance transport for immediate care of a medical emergency or accidental injury doesn’t require prior approval for FEP members.

How to submit prior authorization requests
For prior authorization, call Alacura, an independent company that manages medical transportation requests for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, at 1-844-608-3676 or fax the pertinent documentation to 1-844-608-3572. If you fax Alacura, indicate on your cover sheet that this is a prior authorization request.