This subpart sets forth the conditions for payment for services furnished in a foreign country.

Subject to the conditions set forth in this subpart—

(a) Medicare Part A pays, in the amounts specified in § 413.74 of this chapter, for emergency and nonemergency inpatient hospital services furnished by a foreign hospital.

(b) Medicare Part B pays for certain physicians' services and ambulance services furnished in connection with covered inpatient care in a foreign hospital, as specified in § 424.124.

(c) All other services furnished outside the United States are excluded from Medicare coverage, as specified in § 411.9 of this chapter.

Medicare Part A pays for emergency inpatient hospital services furnished by a foreign hospital if the following conditions are met:

(a) At the time of the emergency that required the inpatient hospital services, the beneficiary was—

(1) In the United States; or

(2) In Canada traveling between Alaska and another State without unreasonable delay and by the most direct route.

(b) The foreign hospital was closer to, or more accessible from, the site of the emergency than the nearest United States hospital equipped to deal with, and available to treat, the individual's illness or injury.

(c) The conditions for payment for emergency services set forth in § 424.103 are met.

(d) The hospital is a hospital as defined in § 424.101, and is licensed, or approved as meeting the conditions for licensing, by the appropriate agency of the country in which it is located.

(e) The determination of whether the hospital was more accessible is made in accordance with § 424.106.

Medicare Part A pays for inpatient hospital services furnished by a foreign hospital if the following conditions are met:

(a) The beneficiary is a resident of the United States.

(b) The foreign hospital is closer or more accessible to the beneficiary's residence than the nearest United States hospital equipped to deal with, and available to treat, the individual's illness or injury.

(c) The foreign hospital is—

(1) A hospital as defined in § 424.101 and, it is licensed, or approved as meeting the conditions for licensing, by the appropriate agency of the country in which it is located; and

(2) Accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) or accredited or approved by a program of the country where it is located under standards the CMS finds to be essentially equivalent to those of the JCAHO.

(d) The services are covered services that Medicare would pay for if they were furnished by a participating hospital.

(a) Basic rules. Medicare Part B pays for physician and ambulance services if—

(1) They are furnished—

(i) To an individual who is entitled to Part B benefits; and

(ii) In connection with covered inpatient hospital services; and

(2) They meet the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.

(b) Physician services. (1) The physician services are services covered under Medicare Part B and are furnished—

(i) In the hospital, during a period of covered inpatient services; or

(ii) Outside the hospital, on the day of admission and for the same condition that required inpatient admission; and

(2) The physician is legally authorized to practice in the country where he or she furnishes the services.

(c) Ambulance services. The ambulance services are—

(1) Necessary because the use of other means of transportation is contraindicated by the beneficiary's condition; and

(2) Furnished by an ambulance that meets the definition in § 410.41 of this chapter.

(a) Conditions for payment. Medicare pays the hospital if it—

(1) Has in effect an election that—

(i) Meets the requirements set forth in § 424.104; and

(ii) Reflects the hospital's intent to claim for all covered services furnished during a calendar year.

(2) Claims payment in accordance with §§ 424.32 and 413.74 of this chapter; and

(3) Submits evidence requested by CMS to establish that the services meet the requirements of this subpart.

(b) Amount of payment. Payment is made (in accordance with § 413.74 of this chapter) on the basis of 100 percent of the hospital's customary charges, subject to the applicable deductible and coinsurance provisions set forth elsewhere in this chapter.

(a) Conditions for payment of inpatient hospital services. Medicare pays the beneficiary if—

(1) The hospital does not have in effect an election to claim payment; and

(2) The beneficiary, or someone on his or her behalf, submits—

(i) A claim in accordance with § 424.32;

(ii) An itemized hospital bill; and

(iii) Evidence requested by CMS to establish that the services meet the requirements of this subpart.

(b) Amount payable for inpatient hospital services. The amount payable to the beneficiary is determined in accordance with § 424.109(b).

(c) Conditions for payment for Part B services. Medicare pays the beneficiary for physicians' services and ambulance services as specified in § 424.121, if an itemized bill for the services is submitted by the beneficiary or someone on his or her behalf and the conditions of § 424.126(a) (2) and (3) are met.

(d) The amount payable to the beneficiary is determined in accordance with § 410.152 of this chapter.