Highmark Commercial Medical Policy - Pennsylvania


 
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Medical Policy: I-11-036
Topic: Botulinum Toxin (Chemodenervation)
Section: Injections
Effective Date: June 25, 2018
Issue Date: June 25, 2018
Last Reviewed: May 2018

Chemodenervation is a procedure whereby small amounts of botulinum toxin are injected into excessively contracted muscles. Botulinum toxin prevents the release of the chemical signal, which leads to muscle relaxation.

Botulinum toxin type A and B are chemically, pharmacologically, and clinically distinct products and are not interchangeable.

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.

Policy Position Coverage is subject to the specific terms of the member’s benefit plan.

OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®) may be considered medically necessary when it's used in the treatment of ANY of the following conditions:

  • Acute dystonia due to drugs; or
  • Blepharospasm  associated with dystonia in individuals greater than or equal to 12 years of age characterized by intermittent or sustained closure of the eyelids caused by involuntary contractions of the orbicularis oculi muscle; or
  • Cervical dystonia, also known as spasmodic torticollis in adults and pediatric individuals age equal to or greater than 16 years; (applicable whether congenital or due to child birth injury or traumatic injury), associated with sustained head tilt or abnormal posturing with limited range of motion in the neck and a history of recurrent involuntary contraction of one or more of the muscles of the neck (e.g. sternocleidomastoid, splenius, trapezius or posterior cervical muscles); or
  • Prevention of chronic migraine headaches in adult individuals.  Chronic is defined as greater than or equal to 15 days per month for greater than 3 months with features of migraine headache on at least 8 days per month lasting four hours a day or longer.
    • An initial six month trial may be considered medically necessary when All of the following criteria are met:
      • Prescribed by or in consultation with a neurologist or headache specialist; and
      • A healthcare provider trained in administration of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) is administering the drug; and
      • A diagnosis of chronic migraine headache has been established using the International Classification of Headache Disorders, Third Edition (ICHD-III); and
      • There is a persistent three month history of recurring debilitating headaches as defined above and  documented by a headache diary; and
      • The headaches are not caused by medication rebound (the individual is not taking narcotics or triptans exceeding more than 18 doses per month) or lifestyle issues (e.g., sleep patterns, caffeine use, etc.); and
      • Adequate trials of prophylactic therapy from at least three different therapy classes (e.g., antiseizure, beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants) were either not effective or not tolerated. Documentation of trials and failure should include that these medications have been prescribed at adequate doses and for a reasonable length of time (i.e., six weeks each); and
      • If an individual’s headaches do not adequately respond to treatment (defined as less than a 30% reduction in headache days per month after two treatment cycles), the botulinum toxin should be discontinued; or
  • Chronic migraine continued treatment beyond six (6) months (up to four injection treatments in a 12-month period) may be considered medically necessary when ALL the following criteria are met:
    • Migraine headache frequency reduced by at least seven (7) days per month; and
    • Migraine headaches duration reduced at least 100 hours per month; or
  • Demyelinating disease of central nervous system, unspecified; or
  • Diplegia of upper limbs; or
  • Focal upper-limb dystonia ( e.g., organic writer's cramp) when documentation that abnormal muscle tone is causing persistent pain and/or interfering with functional ability; or
  • Hemifacial spasms (7th cranial nerve palsy)  in the adult individual  when failure of  oral pharmacological therapies such as carbamazepine, baclofen and benzodiazepine; or  
  • Hereditary spastic paraplegia; or
  • Idiopathic torsion dystonia; or
  • Incontinence due to detrusor over reactivity (urge incontinence), either idiopathic or due to neurogenic causes (e.g., spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis), that is refractory to second line treatment, (e.g.  antimuscarinics/anticholinergics); or
  • Late effects of cerebrovascular disease; or
  • Lower limb spasticity in adult individuals indicated to decrease the severity of increased muscle tone in ankle and toe flexors; or
  • Monoplegia of lower limb; or
  • Monoplegia of upper limb; or 
  • Multiple sclerosis; or
  • Neuromyelitis optica; or
  • Orofacial dyskinesia; or
  • Other acquired torsion dystonia; or
  • Other demyelinating diseases of central nervous system; or
  • Overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary  incontinence, urgency, and frequency that is refractory to second line treatment, (e.g. antimuscarinics/anticholinergics); or
  • Paraplegia; or
  • Quadriplegia and quadriparesis; or
  • Schilder's disease; or
  • Sequela of spinal cord or traumatic brain injury (e.g. spasticity, intractable headache, etc); or
  • Spastic hemiplegia; or
  • Strabismus in individuals greater or equal to 12 years of age; or
  • Subacute dyskinesia due to drugs; or 
  • Upper limb spasticity in adult individuals, to decrease the severity of increased muscle tone in elbow flexors, wrist flexors, finger flexors and thumb flexors; or
  • Unspecified monoplegia.

All other uses of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) are not medically necessary.

Procedure Codes
52287, 53899, 64611, 64612, 64615, 64616, 64617, 64642, 64643, 64644, 64645, 64646, 64647, 64999, 67345, 92265, 95873, 95874, J0585



OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) and other medically accepted non-FDA approved indications, Class IIB or higher grade recommendation.

OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) may be considered medically necessary for the following medically accepted non-FDA approved indications when it's used in the treatment of ANY of the following conditions:

  • Anal fissure (chronic); or
  • Cerebral palsy with spasticity;  or
  • Esophageal achalasia: in individuals who have not responded to dilation therapy or who are considered poor surgical candidates; or
  • Laryngeal spasm; or
  • Sialorrhea (drooling) in individuals with functional impairment originating from spasticity or dystonia (conditions of involuntary sustained muscle contraction) resulting from Parkinson disease who have been refractory to pharmacotherapy (including anticholinergics, such as but not limited to scopolamine); or
  • Spasmodic dysphonia in the adult individual.

All other uses of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) are considered not medically necessary.

Procedure Codes
46505, 64611, 64616, 64617, 95873, 95874, J0585, S2340, S2341



AbobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport) may be considered medically necessary for the following FDA approved conditions:

  • Cervical dystonia spasmodic torticollis in adult individuals; or
  • Spasticity in adult individuals (upper and lower limb); or
  • Lower limb spasticity in pediatric individuals 2 years of age and older

All other uses of abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport) are considered not medically necessary.

Procedure Codes
64615, 64616, 64642, 64643, 64644, 64645, 95873, 95874, J0586



IncobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin®) may be considered medically necessary for adult individuals for the treatment of:

  • Adults with cervical dystonia, also known as spasmodic torticollis associated with sustained head tilt or abnormal posturing with limited range of motion in the neck and a history of recurrent involuntary contraction of one or more of the muscles of the neck (e.g. sternocleidomastoid, splenius, trapezius or posterior cervical muscles), to decrease the severity of abnormal head position and neck pain in both botulinum toxin-naive and previously treated individuals; or
  • Blepharospasm characterized by intermittent or sustained closure of the eyelids caused by involuntary contractions of the orbicularis oculi muscle or facial nerve (VII) disorders including hemifacial spasm in adults previously treated with onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox); or
  • Upper limb spasticity in adults, to decrease the severity of increased muscle tone in elbow flexors, forearm pronators, wrist flexors, thumb, and finger flexors.

All other uses of incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin) are considered not medically necessary.

Procedure Codes
64612, 64616, 64642, 64643, 64644, 64645, 95873, 95874, J0588



RimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc®) may be considered medically necessary for adult individuals for the treatment of:

  • Adult individuals with cervical dystonia, also known as spasmodic torticollis a neurological movement disorder associated with sustained head tilt or abnormal posturing with limited range of motion in the neck and a history of recurrent involuntary contraction of one or more of the muscles of the neck (e.g. sternocleidomastoid, splenius, trapezius or posterior cervical muscles).

All other uses of rimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc) are considered not medically necessary.

Procedure Codes
64616, 95873, 95874, J0587



RimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc) for other medically accepted non-FDA approved indications, Class IIB or higher grade recommendation.

RimabotulinumtoxinB (MYOBLOC®) may be considered medically necessary for adult individuals for the treatment of:

  • Ptyalism/sialorrhea (excessive secretion of saliva, drooling) that is associated with advanced Parkinson’s disease; and
  • Refractory to pharmacotherapy (including anticholinergics such as but not limited to scopolamine).

All other uses of rimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc) are considered not medically necessary.

Procedure Codes
64611, 64616, 95873, 95874, J0587



Refer to medical policy S-178, Treatment of Hyperhidrosis, for additional information.

Dosage recommendations per the FDA label.

Dosage recommendations per DRUGDEX® Evaluations (non-FDA approved indications, Class IIb or higher grade recommendation).


Professional Statements and Societal Positions

American Academy of Neurology (AAN).  Botulinum neurotoxin should be offered as a treatment option for the treatment of cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, focal upper extremity dystonia, adductor laryngeal dystonia, upper extremity essential tremor, and may be considered for hemifacial spasm and focal lower limb dystonia.

American Urological Association (AUA).  Intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA should be offered as third-line treatment in the carefully-selected and thoroughly-counseled individual who has been refractory to first and second-line OAB treatments. The individual must be able and willing to return for frequent post-void residual evaluation and able and willing to perform self-catheterization if necessary.


Place of Service: Outpatient

Botulinum Toxin (Chemodenervation) 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.


The policy position applies to all commercial lines of business


Denial Statements

Services that do not meet the criteria of this policy will not be considered medically necessary. A network provider cannot bill the member for the denied service unless: (a) the provider has given advance written notice, informing the member that the service may be deemed not medically necessary; (b) the member is provided with an estimate of the cost; and (c) the member agrees in writing to assume financial responsibility in advance of receiving the service. The signed agreement must be maintained in the provider’s records.

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Medical policies do not constitute medical advice, nor are they intended to govern the practice of medicine. They are intended to reflect Highmark's reimbursement and coverage guidelines. Coverage for services may vary for individual members, based on the terms of the benefit contract.

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Room 509F, HHH Building
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1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)

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