Help patients avoid being balance billed by noncontracted ambulance services

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network haven’t been able to secure a network contract with Superior Ambulance Service. Superior remains noncontracted (or nonparticipating) and continues to balance bill our members for amounts nearly four times our in-network rates.

You can help us prevent this type of situation from occurring with our Blue Cross commercial, Medicare Plus Blue℠, BCN commercial and BCN Advantage℠ members. As a reminder, health care providers should order transfers from contracted ambulance services when arranging for non-emergency ground transfers to prevent patients from being balance billed large amounts from noncontracted ambulance services.

To determine which ground ambulance services are contracted with or participate with a member’s health plan:

1. Go to bcbsm.com.
2. Click on Find a Doctor.
3. Click on the Search without logging in link.
4. If prompted, choose a location.
5. In the upper-right corner of the screen, do one of the following:
• Click on the I don’t know my network button.
• Click on the Change your location or plan link and then click on I don’t know my network.
6. Click on the Find a different plan button.
7. Select the appropriate plan.
8. Click on the Confirm selection button.
9. Click on Places by type.
10. Enter Land ambulance or the name of a specific ambulance provider and press Enter.

The search results include the ground ambulance services that are contracted with or participate with the plan you selected.

See our Ground Ambulance Services medical policy for additional information. To view the policy:

1. Go to bcbsm.com/providers.
2. Click on Resources.
3. Scroll down the page and click on the Search Medical Policies button.
4. In the Medical Policy Router Search page, enter ground ambulance services in the Policy/Topic Keyword field and press Enter.
5. Click on the Medical Policy – Ground Ambulance Services link.