A0436 HCPCS code: Rotary wing air mileage, per statute mile
A0436 is the HCPCS Level II code for rotary wing air mileage, per statute mile. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $30.62 per service for A0436 across 4,293,489 services. Its Medicare coverage code is C (Carrier judgment): Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case. The NCCI unit limit is 300 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume fell 3% from 2022 to 2024 (4,432,748 to 4,293,489 services). In 2024, about 359 clinicians billed Medicare for A0436 for 62,278 beneficiaries; Alabama, Oregon, Texas accounted for 32% of services.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | A codes — Transportation, medical/surgical supplies and miscellaneous |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 52 |
| BETOS category | O1A — Ambulance |
| Added | 2001-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2001-01-01 |
Who bills A0436 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 359 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 62,278 |
| States with claims | 42 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Alabama, Oregon, Texas) | 32% |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for A0436, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4,432,748 | 63,825 | $34.72 | $27.70 |
| 2023 | 4,403,325 | 63,535 | $37.44 | $29.83 |
| 2024 | 4,293,489 | 62,278 | $38.43 | $30.62 |
States with the most A0436 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 803,118 | $30.22 |
| Oregon | 299,668 | $31.44 |
| Texas | 278,404 | $30.56 |
| Missouri | 203,556 | $30.94 |
| Colorado | 200,753 | $32.24 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 300 | Clinical: Data |
| practitioner claims | 300 | Clinical: Data |
What changed for A0436
- 2001-01-01: A0436 added to HCPCS Level II
- Next scheduled CMS quarterly update (HCPCS and DMEPOS fee schedule): 2027-01-01
Frequently asked questions
What is HCPCS code A0436?
A0436 is the HCPCS Level II code for rotary wing air mileage, per statute mile. Short descriptor: "Rotary wing air mileage".
How much does Medicare pay for A0436?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $30.62 per service (average allowed $38.43).
Does Medicare cover A0436?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
How many units of A0436 can be billed per day?
300 on outpatient hospital claims; 300 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related A04 codes
- A0420 — Ambulance waiting time (als or bls), one half (1/2) hour increments
- A0422 — Ambulance (als or bls) oxygen and oxygen supplies, life sustaining situation
- A0424 — Extra ambulance attendant, ground (als or bls) or air (fixed or rotary winged); (requires medical review)
- A0425 — Ground mileage, per statute mile
- A0426 — Ambulance service, advanced life support, non-emergency transport, level 1 (als 1)
- A0427 — Ambulance service, advanced life support, emergency transport, level 1 (als 1 - emergency)
- A0428 — Ambulance service, basic life support, non-emergency transport, (bls)
- A0429 — Ambulance service, basic life support, emergency transport (bls-emergency)
- A0430 — Ambulance service, conventional air services, transport, one way (fixed wing)
- A0431 — Ambulance service, conventional air services, transport, one way (rotary wing)
- A0432 — Paramedic intercept (pi), rural area, transport furnished by a volunteer ambulance company which is prohibited by state law from billing third party payers
- A0433 — Advanced life support, level 2 (als 2)
Building a device that would bill under a code like this? Caduvo matches a device description to HCPCS/CPT codes, Medicare coverage and payment, and the FDA pathway in one report.
Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under A0436
- Watch A0436 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for A0436
Sources: CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule; CMS NCCI MUE tables; CMS Medicare utilization (physician and DME supplier files); CMS Medicare Coverage Database articles. Fees are Medicare allowables, not commercial rates. Not billing or legal advice.