Medical Policy and Coding Updates May 2020

  • Updates for both non-individual and individual plans

  • Effective August 16, 2020

    Updates to AIM Specialty Health® Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines

    Effective for dates of service on and after August 16, 2020, the following updates by will apply to the AIM Specialty Health® Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines for Radiology: Chest Imaging

    Updates by section:

    Tumor or Neoplasm

    • Allowed follow up of nodules less than 6 mm in size seen on incomplete thoracic CT, in alignment with follow up recommendations for nodules of the same size seen on complete thoracic CT
    • Added new criteria for which follow up is indicated for mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy
    • Separated mediastinal/hilar mass from lymphadenopathy, which now has its own entry

    Parenchymal Lung Disease – not otherwise specified

    • Removed as it is covered elsewhere in the document (parenchymal disease in “Occupational lung diseases” and pleural disease in “Other thoracic mass lesions”)

    Interstitial lung disease (ILD), non-occupational, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)

    • Defined criteria warranting advanced imaging for both diagnosis and management

    Occupational lung disease (Adult only)

    • Moved parenchymal component of asbestosis into this indication
    • Limited evaluation of clinically suspected rupture to patients with silicone implants

    Chest Wall and Diaphragmatic Conditions

    • Removed screening indication for implant rupture due to lack of evidence indicating that outcomes are improved
    • Added Berylliosis

    Effective for dates of service on and after August 16, 2020, the following updates by will apply to the AIM Specialty Health® Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines for Radiology: Oncology Imaging

    Updates by section:

    MRI breast

    • New indication for BIA-ALCL
    • New indication for pathologic nipple discharge
    • Further define the population of patients most likely to benefit from preoperative MRI

    Breast cancer screening

    • Added new high risk genetic mutations appropriate for annual breast MRI screening

    Lung cancer screening

    • Added asbestos-related lung disease as a risk factor

    Effective for dates of service on and after August 16, 2020, the following updates by will apply to the AIM Specialty Health® Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines for Sleep Disorder Management

    Updates by section:

    Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure Devices

    • Change in BPAP FiO2 from 45 to 52 mmHg based on strong evidence and aligns with Medicare requirements for use of BPAP

    Multiple Sleep Latency Testing and/or Maintenance of Wakefulness Testing

    • Style change for clarity

    Effective August 7, 2020

    IL-5 Inhibitors, 5.01.559
    Cinqair® (reslizumab) has been added to the policy and may be considered medically necessary as an add-on maintenance treatment for patients ages 18 and older with severe asthma when criteria are met. The following re-authorization criteria have been added to the policy: a decrease in requirement for oral steroids, exacerbation frequency, ER and urgent care visits, and hospitalizations; or a decrease in the frequency and severity of asthma symptoms; or an increase in quality of life measures and ability to perform activities of daily living.


    Effective July 2, 2020

    Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation for Focal Articular Cartilage Lesions, 7.01.569
    Site of service criteria and reference to policy, Site of Service: Select Surgery Procedures – 11.01.524, have been removed. Site of service will be included in the medical necessity review for the primary procedure (knee arthroplasty, knee arthroscopy) using InterQual® criteria.

    Electrostimulation and Electromagnetic Therapy for Treating Wounds, 2.01.57
    This policy was previously archived in 2018 and is being reinstated. Electrical stimulation and electromagnetic therapy for the treatment of wounds is considered investigational.

    Erythroid Maturation Agents, 5.01.614
    Reblozyl® (luspatercept-aamt) has been added to the policy and may be considered medically necessary for the treatment of anemia in adults ages 18 and older with beta thalassemia when criteria are met.

    Meniscal Allografts and Other Meniscal Implants, 7.01.15
    Site of service criteria and reference to policy, Site of Service: Select Surgery Procedures – 11.01.524, have been removed. Site of service will be included within the medical necessity review for a knee arthroscopy procedure using InterQual® criteria.

    Miscellaneous Oncology Drugs, 5.01.540
    Padcev™ (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) has been added to the policy and may be considered medically necessary for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) in adults ages 18 and older when criteria are met.


    Effective June 5, 2020

    Miscellaneous Oncology Drugs, 5.01.540
    Darzalex® (daratumumab) has been added to the policy and may be considered medically necessary for the treatment of multiple myeloma in adults when used as a combination treatment or monotherapy when criteria are met.


    Effective May 17, 2020

    Effective for dates of service on and after May 17, 2020, the following updates by will apply to the AIM Specialty Health® Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines for Radiology: Vascular Imaging

    Updates by section:

    Aneurysm of the abdominal aorta or iliac arteries

    • Added new indication for asymptomatic enlargement by imaging
    • Clarified surveillance intervals for stable aneurysms as follows:
      • Treated with endografts, annually
      • Treated with open surgical repair, every 5 years

    Stenosis or occlusion of the abdominal aorta or branch vessels, not otherwise specified

    • Added surveillance indication and interval for surgical bypass grafts

    New medical policies

    Effective May 1, 2020

    Implantable Bone-Conduction and Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids, 7.01.03
    This policy replaces policy 7.01.547; policy renumbered. The medical necessity criterion for non-implanted bone conduction (bone-anchored) hearing aids with a Softband has been removed from the policy. All other statements remain unchanged.

    Revised medical policies

    Effective May 1, 2020

    Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, 8.01.21
    Medical necessity criteria have been updated. The definition of reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) has been revised to include the term “risk-adapted” for myeloproliferative neoplasms in patients who are at high risk of intolerance of a myeloablative conditioning regimen.

    Surgical Treatments for Lymphedema and Lipedema, 7.01.567
    Lipectomy or liposuction for the treatment of lymphedema or lipedema has been changed from investigational to medically necessary when criteria are met. New medical necessity criteria include documentation of the following: significant physical impairment; no response to at least 3 consecutive months of conservative treatment; continued use of compression garments post-operation. Patients with lipedema must have the following symptoms documented in their medical record: bilateral symmetric adiposity in the extremities; non-pitting edema; and tissue in affected areas that is soft and tender to palpation.

    Revised pharmacy policies

    Effective May 1, 2020

    Medical Necessity Criteria for Pharmacy Edits, 5.01.605
    All drugs listed below may be considered medically necessary when criteria are met.

    Anticonvulsants

    • Epidiolex® (cannabidiol) has a new medical necessity criterion. Patients must have tried and failed at least one generic anti-seizure medication.
    • Valtoco® (diazepam nasal spray) has been added to the policy for the treatment of epilepsy in patients ages 6 and older.

    Brand Topical Acne or Rosacea Agents
    The following drugs have been added to the policy for the treatment of acne:

    • Benzoyl Peroxide/Clindamycin/Niacinamide
    • Benzoyl Peroxide/Clindamycin/Tretinoin
    • Clindamycin/Niacinamide
    • Clindamycin/Niacinamide/Spironolactone/Tretinoin
    • Dapsone
    • Dapsone/Niacinamide
    • Dapsone/Niacinamide/Spironolactone

    Chelating Agents
    The following drugs have been added to the policy:

    • Generic trientine for the treatment of Wilson’s disease
    • Syprine® (trientine) for the treatment of Wilson’s disease

    Constipation

    • All drugs in this policy section have updated medical necessity criteria to include coverage when on existing therapy.
    • Pizensy™ (lactitol oral solution) has been added to the policy for the treatment of adult patients with chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).

    Corticosteroids
    The statement “policy does not target kit and combination packages” has been removed.

    Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia Agents

    • Juxtapid® (lomitapide) has been removed from this policy and moved to Pharmacologic Treatment of High Cholesterol, 5.01.558
    • Kynamro™ (mipomersen) has been removed from this policy. This drug has been withdrawn from the market.

    Muscle Relaxants
    This is a new policy section.

    • Ozobax™ (baclofen oral solution) has been added to the policy.

    Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and Combinations

    • Generic naproxen/esomeprazole has been added to the policy.

    Pharmacologic Treatment of High Cholesterol, 5.01.558
    Juxtapid® (lomitapide) and Kynamro™ (mipomersen) have been moved from Medical Necessity Criteria for Pharmacy Edits, 5.01.605, and added to this policy. Kynamro™ (mipomersen) has been withdrawn from the market and medical necessity criteria for this drug were not added to the policy. Juxtapid® (lomitapide) may be considered medically necessary for the treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in adults ages 18 and older when criteria are met. The brand simvastatin oral suspension, an HMG-CoA inhibitor, has been added to the policy and may be considered medically necessary for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Medical necessity criteria for Vascepa® (icosapent ethyl) have been updated to include a daily dose requirement of 4 grams per day.

    Pharmacotherapy of Multiple Sclerosis, 5.01.565
    Drug indications in the policy have been updated to include reference to clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease where applicable based on the drug’s prescribing information. Zeposia® (ozanimod), a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator, has been added to the policy and may be considered medically necessary as a first-line treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis when criteria are met. Medical necessity criteria for Ocrevus® (ocrelizumab) have been updated to include an EDSS score of less than 7 and the use of Ocrevus® without any other multiple-sclerosis disease-modifying drugs.

    An archived policy is one that's no longer active and is not used for reviews.

    Effective July 2, 2020

    Site of Service - Select Surgical Procedures, 11.01.524
    Site of service medical necessity review criteria may be found using the applicable medical necessity criteria for the procedure.

    A deleted policy is one whose number is no longer used but the content is either moved into another policy or replaced with a new policy and number.

    Deleted May 1, 2020

    Implantable Bone-Conduction and Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids, 7.01.547
    The policy has been renumbered 7.01.03.

    Added codes

    Effective May 1, 2020

    Amniotic Membrane and Amniotic Fluid, 7.01.149
    Now requires review for investigative.

    Q4205, Q4206, Q4208, Q4209, Q4210, Q4211, Q4212, Q4213, Q4214, Q4215, Q4216, Q4217, Q4218, Q4219, Q4221

    Revised codes

    Effective May 17, 2020

    Reviews for the code listed below are delayed until dates of service on and after May 17, 2020, the following updates by section will apply to the AIM Specialty Health® Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines for Radiation Oncology:

    Now requires review for medical necessity and prior authorization.
    55874

    Removed codes

    Effective May 1, 2020

    Implantable Bone-Conduction and Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids, 7.01.03
    No longer requires review for medical necessity and prior authorization.
    L8692

  • Updates for non-individual plans only

  • InterQual Criteria: Services Reviewed for Medical Necessity, 10.01.531
    This policy outlines the specific services for which the Plan will use InterQual® criteria to review for medical necessity starting for dates of service July 2, 2020 and after. (* InterQual® criteria may vary from the medical policies listed below). Sign in to our website to view InterQual® criteria.

    • Adjustable Cranial Orthoses for Positional Plagiocephaly and Craniosynostoses, 1.01.11
    • Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Genetic Diseases and Acquired Anemias, 8.01.22
    • Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, 8.01.21
    • Artificial Intervertebral Disc: Cervical Spine, 7.01.108
    • Artificial Pancreas Device Systems, 1.01.30
    • Autografts and Allografts in the Treatment of Focal Articular Cartilage Lesions, 7.01.570
    • Bariatric Surgery, 7.01.516
    • Blepharoplasty, Blepharoptosis and Brow Ptosis Surgery, 7.01.508
    • Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement, 2.02.506
    • Cervical Spine Surgeries: Discectomy, Laminectomy, and Fusion in Adults, 7.01.560
    • Cochlear Implant, 7.01.05
    • Continuous Passive Motion in the Home Setting, 1.01.10
    • Coronary Angiography for Known or Suspected Coronary Artery Disease, 2.02.507
    • Deep Brain Stimulation, 7.01.63
    • Extracorporeal Photopheresis, 8.01.36
    • Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis and Other Musculoskeletal Conditions, 2.01.40
    • Facet Joint Denervation, 7.01.555
    • Gastric Electrical Stimulation, 7.01.522
    • Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma, 8.01.15
    • Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, 8.01.30
    • Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Hodgkin Lymphoma, 8.01.29
    • Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, 8.01.529
    • Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Plasma Cell Dyscrasias, Including Multiple Myeloma and POEMS Syndrome, 8.01.17
    • Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in the Treatment of Germ-Cell Tumors, 8.01.532
    • Hip Arthroplasty in Adults, 7.01.573
    • Hospital Beds and Accessories, 1.01.520
    • Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, 2.01.505
    • Interspinous and Interlaminar Stabilization/Distraction Devices (Spacers), 7.01.107
    • Interspinous Fixation (Fusion) Devices, 7.01.138
    • Kidney Transplant, 7.03.01
    • Knee Arthroplasty in Adults, 7.01.550*
    • Knee Arthroscopy in Adults, 7.01.549
    • Knee Orthoses (Braces), Ankle-Foot-Orthoses, and Knee-Ankle-Foot-Orthoses, 1.03.501
    • Liver Transplant and Combined Liver-Kidney Transplant, 7.03.509*
    • Lumbar Spinal Fusion, 7.01.542
    • Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery: Discectomy, Foraminotomy, Laminotomy, Laminectomy in Adults, 7.01.551
    • Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound, 7.01.109
    • Mastectomy for Gynecomastia, 7.01.521*
    • Oscillatory Devices for the Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis and Other Respiratory Conditions, 1.01.15
    • Panniculectomy and Excision of Redundant Skin, 7.01.523
    • Patient Lifts, Seat Lifts and Standing Devices, 1.01.519
    • Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation, 2.02.26
    • Percutaneous Vertebroplasty and Sacroplasty, 6.01.25
    • Pneumatic Compression Pumps for Treatment of Lymphedema and Venous Ulcers, 1.01.18
    • Power Operated Vehicles (Scooters) (Excluding Motorized Wheelchairs), 1.01.527
    • Radioembolization for Primary and Metastatic Tumors of the Liver, 8.01.521
    • Reconstructive Breast Surgery/Management of Breast Implants, 7.01.533
    • Reduction Mammaplasty for Breast-Related Symptoms, 7.01.503*
    • Responsive Neurostimulation for the Treatment of Refractory Focal Epilepsy, 7.01.143
    • Rhinoplasty, 7.01.558
    • Sacral Nerve Neuromodulation/Stimulation, 7.01.69
    • Semi-Implantable and Fully Implantable Middle Ear Hearing Aids, 7.01.84
    • Spinal Cord and Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation, 7.01.546
    • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation for Aortic Stenosis, 7.01.132
    • Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) as a Treatment for Primary or Metastatic Liver Malignancies, 8.01.11
    • Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair, 2.02.30
    • Vagus Nerve Stimulation, 7.01.20
    • Wearable Cardioverter-Defibrillators as a Bridge to Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement, 2.02.506
    • Wheelchairs (Manual or Motorized), 1.01.501

    No updates this month

  • Updates for individual plans only

  • Services Reviewed Using InterQual Criteria, 10.01.530
    This policy outlines the specific services for which the Plan will use InterQual® criteria with those added for dates of service beginning July 2, 2020 and after. (* InterQual® criteria may vary from the medical policies listed below). Sign in to our website to view InterQual® criteria.

    • Adjustable Cranial Orthoses for Positional Plagiocephaly and Craniosynostoses, 1.01.11
    • Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Genetic Diseases and Acquired Anemias, 8.01.22
    • Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, 8.01.21
    • Artificial Intervertebral Disc: Cervical Spine, 7.01.108
    • Artificial Pancreas Device Systems, 1.01.30
    • Autografts and Allografts in the Treatment of Focal Articular Cartilage Lesions, 7.01.570
    • Bariatric Surgery, 7.01.516
    • Blepharoplasty, Blepharoptosis and Brow Ptosis Surgery, 7.01.508
    • Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement, 2.02.506
    • Cervical Spine Surgeries: Discectomy, Laminectomy, and Fusion in Adults, 7.01.560
    • Cochlear Implant, 7.01.05
    • Continuous Passive Motion in the Home Setting, 1.01.10
    • Coronary Angiography for Known or Suspected Coronary Artery Disease, 2.02.507
    • Deep Brain Stimulation, 7.01.63
    • Extracorporeal Photopheresis, 8.01.36
    • Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis and Other Musculoskeletal Conditions, 2.01.40
    • Facet Joint Denervation, 7.01.555
    • Gastric Electrical Stimulation, 7.01.522
    • Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma, 8.01.15
    • Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, 8.01.30
    • Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Hodgkin Lymphoma, 8.01.29
    • Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, 8.01.529
    • Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Plasma Cell Dyscrasias, Including Multiple Myeloma and POEMS Syndrome, 8.01.17
    • Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in the Treatment of Germ-Cell Tumors, 8.01.532
    • Hip Arthroplasty in Adults, 7.01.573
    • Hospital Beds and Accessories, 1.01.520
    • Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, 2.01.505
    • Interspinous and Interlaminar Stabilization/Distraction Devices (Spacers), 7.01.107
    • Interspinous Fixation (Fusion) Devices, 7.01.138
    • Kidney Transplant, 7.03.01
    • Knee Arthroplasty in Adults, 7.01.550*
    • Knee Arthroscopy in Adults, 7.01.549
    • Knee Orthoses (Braces), Ankle-Foot-Orthoses, and Knee-Ankle-Foot-Orthoses, 1.03.501
    • Liver Transplant and Combined Liver-Kidney Transplant, 7.03.509*
    • Lumbar Spinal Fusion, 7.01.542
    • Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery: Discectomy, Foraminotomy, Laminotomy, Laminectomy in Adults, 7.01.551
    • Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound, 7.01.109
    • Mastectomy for Gynecomastia, 7.01.521*
    • Oscillatory Devices for the Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis and Other Respiratory Conditions, 1.01.15
    • Panniculectomy and Excision of Redundant Skin, 7.01.523
    • Patient Lifts, Seat Lifts and Standing Devices, 1.01.519
    • Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation, 2.02.26
    • Percutaneous Vertebroplasty and Sacroplasty, 6.01.25
    • Pneumatic Compression Pumps for Treatment of Lymphedema and Venous Ulcers, 1.01.18
    • Power Operated Vehicles (Scooters) (Excluding Motorized Wheelchairs), 1.01.527
    • Radioembolization for Primary and Metastatic Tumors of the Liver, 8.01.521
    • Reconstructive Breast Surgery/Management of Breast Implants, 7.01.533
    • Reduction Mammaplasty for Breast-Related Symptoms, 7.01.503*
    • Responsive Neurostimulation for the Treatment of Refractory Focal Epilepsy, 7.01.143
    • Rhinoplasty, 7.01.558
    • Sacral Nerve Neuromodulation/Stimulation, 7.01.69
    • Semi-Implantable and Fully Implantable Middle Ear Hearing Aids, 7.01.84
    • Spinal Cord and Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation, 7.01.546
    • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation for Aortic Stenosis, 7.01.132
    • Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) as a Treatment for Primary or Metastatic Liver Malignancies, 8.01.11
    • Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair, 2.02.30
    • Treatment of Varicose Veins/Venous Insufficiency, 7.01.519
    • Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) Endoscopy for Adults, 2.01.533
    • Vagus Nerve Stimulation, 7.01.20
    • Wearable Cardioverter-Defibrillators as a Bridge to Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement, 2.02.506
    • Wheelchairs (Manual or Motorized), 1.01.501

    No updates this month

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