Ambulance Services: Bed-Confinement

According to CMS Internet Only Manual (IOM), Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 10, Section 10.2.3, the below must be met for a beneficiary to be considered bed-confined.

  1. Unable to get up from bed without assistance
  2. Unable to ambulate
  3. Unable to sit up in a chair, wheelchair, geri chair, dialysis chair or ambulate in any way

Bed-confined applies to those Medicare patients who are unable to tolerate any activity out of bed and may or may not, by itself, not meet the requirement of an Paramedic or EMT monitoring him/her on their way to the hospital.

The term "bed confined" is not equal to the meanings of "bed rest", bedridden or "non-ambulatory." It is simply one element of the beneficiary's condition.

Some examples may include:

  • Required restrainment to prevent injury to the beneficiary or others
  • Required to remain immobile because of a fracture that had not been set or the possibility of a fracture
  • Required advanced airway management
  • Beneficiary has morbid obesity which requires additional personnel or equipment to handle

 

Last Updated Oct 26 , 2022