Highmark Commercial Medical Policy - Delaware |
This policy is designed to address medical guidelines that are appropriate for the majority of individuals with a particular disease, illness, or condition. Each person's unique clinical circumstances may warrant individual consideration, based on review of applicable medical records.
Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is covered for certain conditions listed below. This list includes those diagnoses/conditions that most commonly benefit from MNT in improving desired health outcomes. (This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list.)
Medical nutrition therapy may also be covered for the management of obesity per the member's group or individual benefit program. Preventive medicine counseling, for patients with risk factors for diet related chronic diseases, is covered for the following:
When reported separately, charges for medical nutrition therapy should be combined with and processed under the appropriate medical visit procedure codes. If MNT is the only service performed, it will be reimbursed in accordance with the member's medical care benefits. Modifier 25 may be reported with medical care (e.g. visits, consults) to identify it as significant and separately identifiable from the other service(s) provided on the same day. When modifier 25 is reported, the patient’s records must clearly document that separately identifiable medical care was rendered. When the 25 modifier is reported, the patient's records must clearly document that separately identifiable medical care has been rendered.
Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is typically an outpatient procedure which is only eligible for coverage as an inpatient procedure in special circumstances, including, but not limited to, the presence of a co-morbid condition that would require monitoring in a more controlled environment such as the inpatient setting.
This policy is intended to document those medical guidelines used by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware for the purpose of coverage and reimbursement determinations under Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware health benefit plans. These guidelines are appropriate for the majority of individuals with a particular disease, illness, or condition; however, each person's unique clinical circumstances may warrant individual consideration, based on review of applicable medical records. Discrimination is Against the Law The Claims Administrator/Insurer complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/Insurer does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/ Insurer:
If you believe that the Claims Administrator/Insurer has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with: Civil Rights Coordinator, P.O. Box 22492, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Phone: 1-866-286-8295, TTY: 711, Fax: 412-544-2475, email: CivilRightsCoordinator@highmarkhealth.org. You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Civil Rights Coordinator is available to help you. You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Room 509F, HHH Building Washington, D.C. 20201 1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD) Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html. Insurance or benefit/claims administration may be provided by Highmark, Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Coverage Advantage, Highmark Health Insurance Company, First Priority Life Insurance Company, First Priority Health, Highmark Benefits Group, Highmark Select Resources, Highmark Senior Solutions Company or Highmark Senior Health Company, all of which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. ![]() Medical policies are designed to supplement the terms of a member's contract. The member's contract defines the benefits available; therefore, medical policies should not be construed as overriding specific contract language. In the event of conflict, the contract shall govern. Medical policies do not constitute medical advice, nor the practice of medicine. Application of a medical policy to determine coverage in an individual instance is not intended and shall not be construed to supercede the professional judgment of a treating provider. In all situations, the treating provider must use his/her professional judgment to provide care he/she believes to be in the best interest of the patient, and the provider and patient remain responsible for all treatment decisions. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware retains the right to review and update its medical policy guidelines at its sole discretion. These guidelines are the proprietary information of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware. Any sale, copying or dissemination of the medical policies is prohibited; however, limited copying of medical policies is permitted for individual use. |