CMS Specimen Collection Fees and Travel Allowance: 2024 Update
February 12, 2024Travel Allowance Bases: Flat-Rate and Per-Mile
According to the Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Matters publication MM13503, CMS will pay a travel allowance in 1 of 2 ways:
- Flat-rate travel allowance: $11.30
- Per-mile travel allowance: $1.13
The flat-rate travel allowance basis applies when the trained technician travels 20 eligible miles or less to and from 1 location for specimen collection from 1 or more Medicare patients.
Laboratories bill Medicare using HCPCS code P9604 to get the flat-rate travel allowance amount, prorated by the number of patients for whom we pay a specimen collection fee.
The flat-rate trip basis travel allowance is $11.30.