--- kind: "section" citation: "42 C.F.R. § 414.626" title: "42" number: "414.626" heading: "Data reporting by ground ambulance organizations." url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/42/414.626" --- # §414.626. Data reporting by ground ambulance organizations. - (a) **Definitions.** For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: Data collection period means, with respect to a year, the 12-month period that reflects the ground ambulance organization's annual accounting period. Data reporting period means, with respect to a year, the 5-month period that begins the day after the last day of the ground ambulance organization's data collection period. For a year means one of the calendar years from 2020 through 2024. Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument means the single survey-based data collection instrument that can be accessed by sampled ambulance organizations under this section via a secure web-based system for reporting data under this section. - (b) **Data collection and submission requirement.** Except as provided in [paragraph (d)](#d) of this section, a ground ambulance organization selected by CMS under [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section must do the following: - (1) Within 30 days of the date that CMS notifies a ground ambulance organization under [paragraph (c)(3)](#c-3) of this section that it has selected the ground ambulance organization to report data under this section, the ground ambulance organization must select a data collection period that corresponds with its annual accounting period and provide the start date of that data collection period to CMS or its contractor. - (2) Collect during its selected data collection period the data necessary to complete the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument. - (3) Submit to CMS a completed Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument during the data reporting period that corresponds to the ground ambulance organization's selected data collection period. - (c) **Representative sample.** - (1) **Random sample.** For purposes of the data collection described in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section, and for a year, CMS will select a random sample of 25 percent of eligible ground ambulance organizations that is stratified based on: - (i) Provider versus supplier status and ownership (for-profit, non-profit, and government); - (ii) Service area population density (transports originating in primarily urban, rural, and super rural zip codes); and - (iii) **Medicare-billed transport volume categories.** - (2) **Selection eligibility.** A ground ambulance organization is eligible to be selected for data reporting under this section for a year if it is enrolled in Medicare and has submitted to CMS at least one Medicare ambulance transport claim during the year prior to the selection under [paragraph (b)(1)](#b-1) of this section. - (3) **Notification of selection for a year.** CMS will notify an eligible ground ambulance organization that it has been selected to report data under this section for a year at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the calendar year in which the ground ambulance organization must begin to collect data by posting a list of selected organizations on the CMS web page and providing written notification to each selected ground ambulance organization via email or U.S. mail. - (4) **Limitation.** CMS will not select the same ground ambulance organization under this [paragraph (c)](#c) in 2 consecutive years, to the extent practicable. - (d) **Hardship exemption.** A ground ambulance organization selected under [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section may request and CMS may grant an exception to the reporting requirements under [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section in the event of a significant hardship, such as a natural disaster, bankruptcy, or similar situation that the Secretary determines interfered with the ability of the ground ambulance organization to submit such information in a timely manner for the data collection period selected by the ground ambulance organization. - (1) To request a hardship exemption, the ground ambulance organization must submit a request to CMS, in the form and manner specified by CMS, within 90 calendar days of the date that CMS notified the ground ambulance organization that it would receive a 10 percent payment reduction as a result of not submitting sufficient information under the data collection system. The request form must include all of the following: - (i) **Ground ambulance organization name.** - (ii) **NPI number.** - (iii) **Ground ambulance organization address.** - (iv) Chief executive officer and any other designated personnel contact information, including name, email address, telephone number and mailing address (must include a physical address, a post office box address is not acceptable). - (v) **Reason for requesting a hardship exemption.** - (vi) Evidence of the impact of the hardship (such as photographs, newspaper or other media articles, financial data, bankruptcy filing, etc.). - (vii) Date when the ground ambulance organization would be able to begin collecting data under [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section. - (viii) Date and signature of the chief executive officer or other designated personnel of the ground ambulance organization. - (2) CMS will provide a written response to the hardship exemption request within 30 days of its receipt of the hardship exemption form. - (e) **Notification of non-compliance and informal review.** - (1) **Notification of non-compliance.** A ground ambulance organization selected under [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section for a year that does not sufficiently report data under [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section, will receive written notification from CMS that it will receive a payment reduction under [§ 414.610(c)(9)](/cfr/42/414.610.md?p=c-9). - (2) **Informal review.** A ground ambulance organization that receives a written notification under [paragraph (e)(1)](#e-1) of a payment reduction under [§ 414.610(c)(9)](/cfr/42/414.610.md?p=c-9) may submit a request for an informal review within 90 days of the date it received the notificationby submitting a request to CMS, in the form and manner specified by CMS, that includes all of the following information: - (i) **Ground ambulance organization name.** - (ii) **NPI number.** - (iii) Chief executive officer and any other designated personnel contact information, including name, email address, telephone number and mailing address with the street location of the ground ambulance organization. - (iv) **Ground ambulance organization's selected data collection period and data reporting period.** - (v) A statement of the reasons why the ground ambulance organization does not agree with CMS' determination and any supporting documentation. - (f) **Public availability of data—** . Beginning in 2024, and at least once every 2 years thereafter, CMS will post on its website data that it collected under this section, including but not limited to summary statistics and ground ambulance organization characteristics. - (g) **Limitations on review.** There is no administrative or judicial review under [section 1869](/cfr/42/1869.md) or section 1878 of the Act, or otherwise of the data required for submission under [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section or the selection of ground ambulance organizations under [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section. ## Notes ### Amendments [84 FR 63193, Nov. 15, 2019, as amended at 86 FR 65669, Nov. 19, 2021; 87 FR 70226, Nov. 18, 2022] ### Source Source: 67 FR 9132, Feb. 27, 2002, unless otherwise noted. ### Authority Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1302, 1395hh, and 1395rr(b)(l). ### Source Source: 55 FR 23441, June 8, 1990, unless otherwise noted. ### Amendments [84 FR 63193, Nov. 15, 2019, as amended at 86 FR 65669, Nov. 19, 2021; 87 FR 70226, Nov. 18, 2022]