Air Medical Charter Service
Our Fleet
All aircraft owned and operated by Intermountain Healthcare.
Challenger Jet
Challenger 604 – International service area, large cabin size, extra-wide comfortable stretchers, prone and double patient capability, dual pilot, restroom and wi-fi on board, space for accompanying family members
- International Service Area
- Double patient capability
- Large cabin to transport patient’s family members
- Extra wide, comfortable stretchers
- Highly specialized medical team
- Prone patient capability, ECMO, high flow and high-risk OB
- Full size restroom on board
- Dual pilot configuration and all ATP certified pilots
CJ4 Jet
King Air Jet
Our Services
Clinical Expertise and Equipment
- Specialty patient care services, EMCO, BiPAP, Prone (ARDS), inhaled nitric oxide, high frequency ventilation
- Highly specialized care teams with decades of combined experience
- Equipped with state-of-the art Aircraft Clean Air (ACA) ionizer technology to purify air and decontaminate all surfaces
Clinical Services Offered
- Adult Critical Care
- Complex and invasive ventilatory support, including BiPAP
- Mechanical cardiac support, including ECMO
- Prone positioning
- Vasoactive medications
- Bariatric
Our Patient Care
"River was in such capable hands the whole time we were in the Life Flight’s care. Life Flight made bringing our daughter home possible. She was able to visit for 18 days with family and friends before her passing. Those 18 days were so precious and priceless! A huge Thank you to the team of nurses and pilots that made this possible." - Karin
- Ability to schedule transport ahead of time
- Streamlined billing process
- Self-payment options
- Insurance coordination assistance
- Ground ambulances are included in quote (bedside to bedside)
- Ability to transport accompanying family members
- Cater to special dietary needs
Frequently Asked Questions
Cost
How do costs differ between emergent and nonemergent air ambulances?
Costs differ depending on distance depending on distance. We offer a discounted nonemergent pricing structure as situation allows.
Do commercial insurance companies cover Air Medical Charter transportation?
Commercial insurance companies often cover emergent and nonemergent air ambulance transportation. Our Air Medical Charter Team will work with the requester or case manager to determine preauthorization. Self-payment is an option if insurance will not cover the cost of the transport.
Do Medicaid plans cover Air Medical Charter transportation?
Medicaid may not cover nonemergent air ambulance transportation. Our Air Medical Charter Team will work with the requester or case manager to determine preauthorization. We offer a discounted self-payment option if insurance will not cover the cost of the transport.
Do Medicare plans cover Air Medical Charter transportation?
Medicare will not cover nonemergent air ambulance transportation. We offer a discounted self-payment option when insurance will not cover the cost of the transport.
*Please note that self-payment is required to be paid in full prior to the transport via credit card or electronic check.
General
Is it possible to accommodate accompanying family members?
One or two accompanying family members may travel with the patient based on pilot discretion at no additional charge with TSA clearance. Additional family members may be considered as situation allows. Current COVID-19 restrictions may apply.
How much luggage is the patient and family able to bring on the transport?
One or two carry on sized suitcases and a personal bag (i.e. purse or small backpack) per passenger are usually permitted. Space is limited on medical aircraft; however, additional luggage may be considered according to space and weight allowances.
Who can request Air Medical Charter transport?
Air Medical Charter transports are typically requested by medical providers, insurance or hospital case managers. Patients and family members are also able to request Air Medical Charter transports. We will work with the requester as well as medical providers to facilitate transport details. Our Air Medical Charter Team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (385) 226-2680 to answer any questions.
Is Intermountain Life Flight a broker?
Intermountain Life Flight is a nonprofit healthcare organization meaning pilots, crew, and support staff are all employed by Intermountain Healthcare. Aircraft are also owned and operated by Intermountain Healthcare (IHC Health Services, Inc.) This allows elimination of vendor, broker, or partner markups to help keep healthcare transport costs down.
Is it recommended or necessary to work with a broker?
No, a broker is not required. Please contact our Air Medical Charter Team directly at (385) 226-2680 with any questions.
How much notice is needed to schedule an Air Medical Charter transport?
Typically, 24 hours is preferred from the time when the sending facility, accepting facility, and payer agree to the transport. International transports may require 48-72 hours once facilities and payer agree to the transport specifics.
How long has Intermountain Life Flight been in service?
Intermountain Life Flight began transporting emergent patient in 1978. We currently complete over 4,000 transports per year. Our Air Medical Charter program was started in 2018 as an extension of our emergent program.
Operations
What is Air Medical Charter?
An air medical charter is a specialized, medically equipped aircraft used to transport patients requiring intensive care of a medical condition or unable to travel by conventional means in a nonemergent situation. This program can transport both domestically and internationally.
How does Intermountain Life Flight operate internationally?
Intermountain Life Flight has a Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft with international capabilities of transporting two patients and a small number of accompanying family members based on situational allowances and FAA regulations. Our Cessna CJ4 Jet is capable of transports between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
How is the mode of transport determined?
Fixed-wing aircraft are used in nonemergent or long-range air ambulance transports outside of the 150-mile range. It is often more cost and resource effective to used fixed wing aircraft instead of ground ambulances when transporting more than 100 miles. Quotes for multiple modes of transport can be provided when applicable.
Do you only transport to Intermountain Healthcare facilities?
No. We can pick up a patient from any facility and transport them to any facility including long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, or hospice.
What is repatriation?
Repatriation is when an insurance network member is traveling outside of the network and becomes critically ill or injured. It is often more cost-effective to bring the patient back into network for further medical care than to pay an out of network facility for long-term care.
What is the transport process?
The Intermountain Life Flight crew will arrive at the patient’s bedside at the scheduled time. A ground ambulance is coordinated to pick up the patient, crew, and accompanying family members from the sending facility to transport them to the aircraft at the airport. An ambulance is also coordinated to pick up the patient, crew, and accompanying family member upon arrival at the destination airport for transport to the receiving hospital. Continuity of patient care is very important to us at Intermountain Life Flight, however, COVID restrictions may necessitate ambulance crews bringing the patient directly to/from the aircraft.
What is included in the transport quote?
Intermountain Life Flight will make all pertinent arrangements for the transport. This includes coordination of sending/accepting facilities, facilitating medical provider consultations, ground ambulances, international charges, and applicable documents in compliance with FAA, TSA, and CBP regulations. Complimentary light refreshments are also available during flight. Our Air Medical Charter Team can be reached 24/7 at (385) 226-2860 for initial quotes or questions.
What is a typical crew configuration for transports?
Intermountain Life Flight crews typically consists of 1 or 2 experienced pilots (aircraft specific), a Registered Nurse, a Specialty Nurse and/or Paramedic with critical care expertise. Our pilots have thousands of flight hours experience and train biannually at Flight Safety. Our medical crews have decades of combined specialized trauma or ICU experience. Additional specialized crew such as respiratory therapists, perfusionists and mechanical cardiac support nurses are available as needed.