Highmark Medical Policy Bulletin

Section: Visits
Number: V-31
Topic: Medical Care and Associated Services
Effective Date: January 1, 2006
Issued Date: January 2, 2006
Date Last Reviewed:

General Policy Guidelines

Indications and Limitations of Coverage

The services on the Text Attachment are considered an integral part of a doctor’s medical care. If any of the services on the Text Attachment are reported on the same day as medical care, and the charges are itemized, combine the charges and pay only the medical care. Payment for the medical care performed on the same date of service includes the allowance for these procedures. A participating, preferred, or network provider cannot bill the member separately for these services in this case.

If any of the services on the Text Attachment are reported independently, process it for payment under the appropriate code.

Modifier 25 may be reported with medical care to identify it as a significant, separately identifiable service from the integral service. When the 25 modifier is reported, the patient’s records must clearly document that separately identifiable medical care has been rendered.

Procedure Codes

158521725020500206902110029130
291312920029220292402926029280
295202953029540295502958029590
315023150532005354003600036410
437524660050688542355445057150
571605835065430692108716887169
910609112392100922609250492511
947609476195831958329583395834
958519585295875969029905099051
990539905699058990609907099091
991729917399339993409935499355
993569935799358993599937499375
99377993789937999380G0179G0180
G0181G0182G0268S0395S0820S9092
S9441S9474    

Traditional (UCR/Fee Schedule) Guidelines

Refer to General Policy Guidelines

FEP Guidelines

Code 92260 may be paid in addition to medical care reported on the same day.

Also refer to General Policy Guidelines

Comprehensive / Wraparound / PPO / Major Medical Guidelines

Refer to General Policy Guidelines

Any reference in this bulletin to non-billable services by a network provider may not be applicable to Major Medical.

Managed Care (HMO/POS) Guidelines

Refer to General Policy Guidelines

Publications

References

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Table Attachment

Text Attachment

Services


  1. Administration of IV Innovar


  2. Amsler Grid Test


  3. Analysis of data from Swan-Ganz Catheterization


  4. Anoscopy without biopsy (46600)


  5. Application of splint (29130-29131)


  6. Application of traction, suspension, or corrective appliance (non-fracture care)


  7. Asthma education, non-physician provider, per session (S9441)


  8. Blood pressure check


  9. Blue field entoptoscopic exam


  10. Breast exam


  11. Brightness Acuity Test


  12. Canalith repositioning procedure (a.k.a., Epley maneuvers, Otolith repositioning)(S9092)


  13. Care plan oversight services (99339, 99340, 99374-99380)


  14. Catheter site inspection by physician


  15. Changing of tubes


    1. connecting tube


    2. tracheostomy tube


    3. tracheotomy tube (31502)


    4. ureterostomy tube (50688)




  16. Chemical cauterization of granulation tissue (17250)


  17. Chemical pleurodesis (e.g., for recurrent or persistent pneumothorax) (32005)


  18. Collection and interpretation of physiologic data (EG, ECG, blood pressure, glucose monitoring) digitally stored and/or transmitted by the patient and/or caregiver to the physician or other qualified healthcare professional, requiring a minimum of 30 minutes of time (99091) 


  19. Corneal topography/corneal-assisted photokeratoscopy (S0820)


  20. Dressing change (for other than burns) under anesthesia (other than local) (15852)


  21. Ear/pulse oximetry (94760, 94761)


  22. Enterostomal therapy (S9474)


  23. Eye tonometry (92100)


  24. Foreskin manipulation including lysis of preputial adhesions and stretching (54450)


  25. Gastric saline load test (91060)


  26. Grenz ray therapy


  27. Hydrotubation of oviduct (tubal lavage), including materials (58350)


  28. Impression casting of a foot performed by a practitioner other than the manufacturer of the orthotic (S0395)


  29. Injection of corpora cavernosa with pharmacologic agent(s), e.g., papaverine, phentolamine, etc. (54235)


  30. Insertion of pessary (57160)


  31. Irrigation and/or application of medicament for treatment of bacterial, parasitic, or fungoid disease (57150)


  32. IV therapy for severe or intractable allergic disease in physician's office or institution with theophyllines, corticosteroids, antihistamines (excludes cost of the drug)


  33. Laryngoscopy, indirect/mirror, without biopsy (31505)


  34. Laser interferometry or retinometry


  35. Macroscopic examination of arthropod or parasite (87168, 87169)


  36. Magnified penile surface scanning (penoscopy)


  37. Manual, gross visual fields


  38. Microscopic examination of hairs plucked or clipped by the examiner (excluding hair collected by the patient) to determine telogen and anagen counts, or structural hair shaft abnormality (96902)


  39. Miller-Nadler Glare Test


  40. Muscle testing (95831-95834, 95851-95852, 95875)


  41. Naso- or oro-gastric tube placement, requiring physician's skill (43752)


  42. Nasopharyngolaryngoscopy (indirect)


  43. Nasopharyngoscopy (92511)


  44. Ophthalmodynamometry (92260)


  45. Otoscopy (no removal of foreign body)


  46. Phototherapy (for neonatal jaundice)


  47. Physician certification services for Medicare-covered services provided by a participating home health agency (patient not present)(G0180)


  48. Physician recertification services for Medicare-covered services provided by a participating home health agency (patient not present)(G0179)


  49. Physician supervision of a patient receiving Medicare-approved hospice (patient not present) requiring complex and multidisciplinary care modalities (G0182)


  50. Physician supervision of a patient receiving Medicare-covered services provided by a participating home health agency (patient not present) requiring complex and multidisciplinary care modalities (G0181)


  51. Placement of nasogastric feeding tube


  52. Potential acuity testing (visual)


    1. PAM (potential acuity meter)


    2. Guyton - Minkowski test


    3. visometer or retinometer


    4. macular integrity or electro-laser test




  53. Prolonged services (99354-99359)


  54. Prostatic massage


  55. Pulsed irrigation of fecal impaction (91123)


  56. Removal of cerumen (69210, G0268)


  57. Removal non-contraceptive pellets or capsules (FEP and Special Contracts Only-Noncovered under Standard Contracts)


  58. Rhinoscopy (no removal of foreign body)


  59. Schirmer test


  60. Screening test, visual acuity (99173)


  61. Slit lamp test (biomicroscopy, binocular microscopy and fluorescein staining) (92504)


  62. Special Services (99050-99060)


  63. Starting of an IV (See MPB G-16 for information on starting of an IV under the chemotherapy benefit) (36000)


  64. Stat charges for laboratory services


  65. Strapping of joint, including flexible, gel, and soft casts (29200-29280, 29520-29590)


  66. Supplies and materials (except spectacles), provided by the physician over and above those usually included with the office visit or other services rendered (99070)


  67. Telemetry


  68. Tuning fork test


  69. Venipuncture (36410)


  70. Visual function screening, automated or semiautomated (99172)


Procedure Code Attachment


Glossary





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.

Highmark retains the right to review and update its medical policy guidelines at its sole discretion. These guidelines are the proprietary information of Highmark. Any sale, copying or dissemination of the medical policies is prohibited; however, limited copying of medical policies is permitted for individual use.