 Provider News MissouriJanuary 2021 Anthem Provider News - MissouriReduce the amount of time spent on transactional tasks by more than 50 percent when using our secure provider portal or EDI submissions (via Availity) to:
- File claims
- Check statuses
- Verify eligibility and benefits
- Submit prior authorizations
The Provider Digital Engagement Supplement outlines Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) provider expectations, processes and self-service tools across all electronic channels, including medical, dental, and vision benefits – all in one comprehensive resource. Find it on anthem.com > Providers > Forms & Guides > Digital Tools.
Through self-service functions, you can accomplish digital transactions all at one time, all in one place. If you are not already registered, visit anthem.com and use the Log In button for access to our secure provider portal, or via the Availity EDI website.
Accept digital member ID cards
- Save time by accepting the digital member ID card when presented by the member via their App or email.
Register for EFT to get funds faster
- Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) eliminate the need for paper checks. Safe, secure and faster, payments are deposited directly to your bank account. Register here.
Eliminate paper remittances
- Electronic remittance advice (ERA) is completely searchable and downloadable from the secure provider portal or the EDI 835 remittance. Meeting all HIPAA mandates, ERAs eliminate the need for paper remittances.
We appreciate your health care team going digital with Anthem as of January 1, 2021, enabling us to realize our mutual goals of reducing administrative burden and increasing provider satisfaction and collaboration.
You’re invited!
In this 60-minute webinar, you will learn how to use Availity's* Attachment tools to submit and track supporting documentation electronically to Anthem and affiliate payers.
We will explore new key workflow options to fit your organization’s needs, including how to:
- Work a request in the inbox of your Attachments Dashboard.
- Enter and submit a web claim including supporting documentation.
- Use EDI batch options to trigger a request in your inbox.
- Track attachments you submitted using sent and history lists in your Attachments Dashboard.
- Get set up to use these tools.
As part of the session, we’ll answer questions and provide handouts and a job aid for you to reference later.
Register for an upcoming webinar session:
- In the Availity Portal, select Help & Training > Get Trained.
- The Availity Learning Center opens in a new browser tab.
- Search for and enroll in a session using one of these options:
- In the Catalog, search by webinar title or keyword.
- To find this specific live session quickly, use keyword medattach.
- Select the Sessions tab to scroll the live session calendar.
- After you enroll, you’ll receive emails with instructions to join the session.
Webinar Dates and Times:
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DATE
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TIME
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Friday, January 8, 2021
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1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern time
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Tuesday, January 19, 2021
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3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time
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You no longer need to pick up the phone or head to the fax machine to check the status of an authorization request or update a case. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) has added new features to Interactive Care Reviewer (ICR), our online medical and behavioral health authorization tool to improve your digital self-service experience.
- Do you need to update a case that was submitted by phone or fax? Now you can add clinical notes and make other updates to these authorization requests through ICR. To make the update you need to have the Authorization & Referral Request role assigned to you by your Availity Administrator.
- To locate the case, log on to the Availity Portal and select Patient Registration | Authorizations & Referrals, then choose Auth/Referral Inquiry.
- Search for the case in ICR by Member, Reference/Authorization Request Number, or by Date Range.
- From the ICR Case Overview screen select Update Case to update service codes, provider information or clinical notes. If you only need to make changes or add to your notes, select Update Clinical. Select Submit Update to complete the request.
- We’ve removed the guesswork from the notes that are recommended for many standard authorization requests. ICR provides a check list of the supporting clinical information that will assist Anthem with completing the review. The list is located on the Clinical Details You can upload notes, images and photos directly through ICR. You can include the documentation immediately or you can submit your request then return to the case in ICR later and select Update Clinical to add the missing information.
- Check the status of a submitted case at a glance. The ICR UM tracker, located on the Case Overview screen provides a quick view of where the case is in the review process. You can view when Anthem received the request, when the clinical review is underway and completed and the final decision.
- Additionally, we’ve added a new application to Payer Spaces, Chat with Payer, that you can use to check the status of a submitted authorization request. This is a great option if you don’t have the role assignments required to access ICR and research a case.
- To access the Chat with Payer application from Availity’s home page, select Payer Spaces | Chat with Payer. Complete the form with the required information. You need to include the patient name, birth date and health plan member ID number. Choose Authorization Status as your topic for chat to conduct a live chat with a representative.
As a reminder, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) will update our claim editing software monthly for professional services throughout 2021 with the majority of maintenance updates occurring quarterly in February, May, August and November of 2021.
These updates will:
- Reflect the addition of new, and revised codes (e.g. CPT, HCPCS, ICD-10, modifiers) and their associated edits
- Include updates to National Correct Coding Initiative edits (NCCI) and medically unlikely edits (MUEs)
- Include updates to incidental, mutually exclusive, and unbundled (rebundle) edits
- Include assistant surgeon eligibility in accordance with the policy
- Include edits associated with reimbursement policies including, but not limited to, frequency edits, bundled services and global surgery preoperative and post-operative periods assigned by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Apply to any provider, provider group (tax identification number) and/or across providers and claim type (professional/facility) for the same member
As a reminder, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) will update our claim editing software monthly for outpatient facility services throughout 2021 with the majority of maintenance updates occurring quarterly in 2021.
These updates will:
- Reflect the addition of new, and revised codes (e.g. CPT, HCPCS, ICD-10, modifiers, Revenue Codes) and their associated edits
- Include appropriate use of various code combinations, which can include, but are not limited to, procedure code to revenue code, HCPCS to revenue code, type of bill to procedure code, type of bill to HCPCS code, procedure code to modifier, and HCPCS to modifier
- Include updates to National Correct Coding Initiative edits (NCCI) and medically unlikely edits (MUEs)
- Include updates to reflect coding requirements as designated by industry standard sources such as The National Uniform Billing Committee (NUBC)
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) recognizes all coding changes from both the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) effective the date provided by the coding source. This includes the Evaluation and Management (E/M) changes effective January 1, 2021.
The following updates pertaining to Evaluation and Management services have been identified:
- CPT code 99201 (new patient E/M) will be a deleted code.
- CPT codes 99202 through 99215 (new/established E/M) definitions have changed. Selection of these E/M codes can now be based on either Medical Decision Making or Time.
- CPT code 99417 (prolonged services) and HCPCS Code G2212 (prolonged services) will be recognized as billable codes. These codes will be payable based on our existing Prolonged Services policy, which will be updated to reflect the new code along with the modifications to existing prolonged service codes CPT codes 99354 and 99355.
- HCPCS Code G2211 (complexity inherent to evaluation and management associated with primary medical care) will not be separately reimbursed for this service. We will be updating our Bundled Services and Supplies policy to reflect this position.
Additionally, we are in the process of updating reimbursement policies impacted by the E/M service changes such as the Documentation and Reporting Guidelines for Evaluation and Management Services.
Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) is a standardized survey conducted between February to May each year to assess consumers’ experience with their provider and health plan. A random sample of your adult and child patients may receive the survey. Over half of the questions used for scoring are directly impacted by providers.
The survey questions are:
- When you needed care right way, how often did you get it?
- How often did you get an appointment for a check-up or routine care as soon as you needed?
- How often was it easy to get the care, tests, or treatment you needed?
- How often did you get an appointment to see a specialist as soon as you needed?
- How often did your personal doctor seem informed and up-to-date about the care you got from other health providers?
- How would you rate your personal doctor?
- How would you rate the specialist you see most often?
To learn more about how you can improve the patient experience review What Matters Most: Improving the Patient Experience, an online course for providers and office staff. This course is available at no cost and is eligible for one CME credit by the American Academy of Family Physicians. The What Matters Most training can be accessed at www.patientexptraining.com.
Your efforts to create an exceptional care experience for your patients will help to strengthen their healthcare journey.
Effective April 1, 2021, the following new customizations will be implemented:
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Upper (W0170, previously ORG M-180) – Customized the Clinical Indications for admission to inpatient care by revising the hemoglobin; systolic blood pressure; pulse; melena; orthostatic hypotension; and BUN criteria.
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Upper Observation Care (W0171, previously OCG OC-021) – Customized the Clinical Indications for observation care by revising the systolic blood pressure and hemoglobin criteria and adding melena or hematochezia and suspected history of bleeding.
To view a detailed summary of customizations:
- Go to Anthem’s Medical Policies & Clinical UM Guidelines page for your state: Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin.
- Scroll down to other criteria section and select Customizations to MCG Care Guidelines 24th Edition.
For questions, please contact the Provider Services number on the back of the member's ID card.
The following Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) medical polices and clinical guidelines were reviewed on November 5, 2020 for Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Below are new medical policies and/or clinical guidelines.
NOTE *Precertification required
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Title
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Information
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Effective Date
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GENE.00055 Gene Expression Profiling for Risk Stratification of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Severity
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• Gene expression profiling for risk stratification of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) severity, including use of PredictSURE IBD, is considered Investigational and not medically necessary (INV&NMN) for all indications.
CPT PLA code 0203U (effective 10/01/2020) will be considered INV&NMN; also listed NOC codes 81479, 81599 considered NMN when specified as this test.
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4/1/2021
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LAB.00037 Serologic Testing for Biomarkers of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
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• Serological testing for biomarkers of irritable bowel syndrome (for example, CdtB and anti-vinculin), using tests such as, IBSDetex, ibs-smart or IBSchek, is considered INV&NMN for screening, diagnosis or management of irritable bowel syndrome, and for all other indications.
CPT PLA codes 0164U (effective 04/01/2020) and 0176U (effective 07/01/2020) will be considered INV&NMN.
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4/1/2021
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SURG.00158 Implantable Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Devices as a Treatment for Pain
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• Implantable peripheral nerve stimulation devices are considered INV&NMN for all indications including, but not limited to, treatment of acute and chronic pain
• Moved content addressing implantable devices (temporarily or permanently implanted) from DME.00011 to this new policy with no change in criteria.
Existing nonspecific codes 64555, 64575, 64590, C1767, C1778, C1787, L8679, L8680, L8683 for neurostimulator implantation and devices will be reviewed and considered INV&NMN for description of PNS systems for pain
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12/16/2020
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The current clinical guidelines and/or medical policies below were reviewed and updates were approved.
NOTE *Precertification required
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Title
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Change
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Effective date
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*CG-GENE-21 Cell-Free Fetal DNA-Based Prenatal Testing
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• Content moved from GENE.00026
• INV&NMN changed to NMN as a result of MP to CUMG transition
• Re-formatted clinical indications
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12/16/2020
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DME.00011 Electrical Stimulation as a Treatment for Pain and Other Conditions: Surface and Percutaneous Devices
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• Revised scope to only include non-implantable devices
• Reformatted Position Statement section to a single bulleted list of INV&NMN devices
• Added “non-implantable” to bullet point on percutaneous neuromodulation therapy
• Added percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation (PENFS) as INV&NMN for all indications including, but not limited to, functional abdominal pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome
• Moved content addressing implantable devices (temporarily or permanently implanted) to SURG.00158
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4/1/2021
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*SURG.00062 Vein Embolization as a Treatment for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome and Varicocele
Previous title: Ovarian and Internal Iliac Vein Embolization as a Treatment of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
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• Revised title
• Expanded scope to include percutaneous testicular vein embolization for varicocele
• Added embolization of the testicular (spermatic) veins as INV&NMN as a treatment of testicular varicocele.
Added ICD-10-PCS codes for testicular vein embolization and ICD-10-CM code for varicocele
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4/1/2021
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Beginning with dates of service on or after April 1, 2021, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) policy language has been updated to apply a five percent multiple imaging reduction to the professional component of diagnostic imaging procedures that have a Multiple Procedure Indicator (MPI) of 4.
For more information about this policy, view Anthem’s reimbursement policies online for your state: Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin.
Beginning with dates of service on or after April 1, 2021, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) will update the related coding section of the policy to include new HCPCS codes (J9312, Q5103-Q5104 Q5107, Q5109, Q5115 Q5118-Q5119 and Q5121) and their billable units.
For more information about this policy, view Anthem’s reimbursement policies online for your state: Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin.
Beginning with dates of service on or after April 1, 2021, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) has updated our Modifiers Impacting Adjudication to include GN, GO and GP to identify speech, occupational and physical therapy types and K0, K1, K2, K3 and K4 to be identify appropriate functional level.
For more information about this policy, view Anthem’s reimbursement policies online for your state: Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin.
Beginning with dates of service on or after April 1, 2021, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) has updated our policy to reflect services must be reported with appropriate modifiers GN, GO and GP to identify therapy type.
For more information about this policy, view Anthem’s reimbursement policies online for your state: Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin.
Beginning with dates of service on or after April 1, 2021, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) has updated our policy to reflect that constant attendance, timed modalities for physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy are limited to 4 Units or 1 hour per date of service for the same member, by the same provider, per therapy type for (97110-97124, 97129, 97130, 97140, 97533-97542, 97760-97763).
Additionally, the policy was updated to remove deleted codes 99363, 99364 and J9031 and add the following codes, effective January 1, 2020: 96158, 96164, 92273, 92274, 93792, 93973 and J9030.
For more information about this policy, view Anthem’s reimbursement policies online for your state: Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin.
To view the 2021 benefits and changes for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan, also known as the Federal Employee Program® (FEP), go to fepblue.org > select Tools & Resources > Brochure & Resources > Plan Brochures. Here you will find the Service Benefit Plan Brochure and Benefit Plan Summary information for year 2021.
For questions please contact FEP Customer Service at:
IN – 800-382-5520
KY – 800-456-3967
MO – 800-392-8043
OH – 800-451-7602
WI – 800-242-9635
Starting January 1, 2021, IngenioRx, the pharmacy benefit manager for our affiliated health plans, will make its new standard pharmacy network available to your patients. The standard network will be made up of about 58,000 pharmacies nationwide, including well-known national chains like Costco, CVS, Kroger, Sam’s Club, Target and Walmart.
With robust access, your patients can use any participating pharmacy across the country in the standard network to fill their prescriptions.
Network Notification Plan
Some of your patients covered by an Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) health plan may currently use pharmacies that are not in this new network. They’ll need to transfer their active prescription(s) to a network pharmacy to ensure there is no interruption of their coverage.
Prior to the network effective date, we’ll notify your patients by letter outlining the easy steps about transferring their prescriptions to another pharmacy in the network.
In addition, to help you easily send prescriptions to a participating pharmacy, upon the member’s effective date, we’ll include messaging via your patients’ electronic medical record. This message will appear if you attempt to submit a prescription to a pharmacy that’s not included in the standard network. This will ensure your patients’ prescriptions are properly routed to a network pharmacy and will help them continue to receive their medications worry-free.
If your patients would like to search for a network pharmacy prior to the new network effective date, they can log in to anthem.com, where instructions will appear with a helpful link to our online pharmacy search tool. They can enter their address/city/state or their zip code to begin searching.
Questions?
Please refer to our helpful Frequently Asked Questions below for more details about the new standard network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard pharmacy network?
The standard pharmacy network is being added to the IngenioRx network portfolio, beginning January 1, 2021. The standard pharmacy network will be made up of approximately 58,000 pharmacies nationwide, including well-known national retailers and big-box stores. These include Costco, CVS, Kroger, Sam’s Club, Target and Walmart.
How will my patients who have used a non-network pharmacy and are moving to the standard pharmacy network be notified?
Prior to January 1, we’ll notify your patients who are currently utilizing a pharmacy that will not be part of the standard network on the effective date via letter. The information will help patients easily transfer their prescriptions to a participating network pharmacy with no interruption when they need to fill their prescriptions.
How will I be notified if an ePrescription is routed to a non-network pharmacy?
An alert will be provided to you via your patients’ electronic medical records if you attempt to forward a prescription to a pharmacy that doesn’t participate in the standard network. This will ensure your patients’ prescriptions are properly routed to a network pharmacy and this will help them seamlessly receive their medications.
If I’m alerted through my patients’ electronic medical record that a pharmacy will not be part of the standard network, how can my patient move their prescription to another participating pharmacy?
You can choose another pharmacy in the patient’s EMR where the ePrescription will be routed, or your patient can take a printed copy of your prescription to the new pharmacy of their choosing and ask the new pharmacy to contact the non-network pharmacy to make arrangements for the transfer.
How can my patients search for a pharmacy that participates in the standard pharmacy network?
Starting in November 2020, your patients can log in to anthem.com, where information about their new pharmacy network will appear. The information will also outline how to transfer prescriptions to a network pharmacy with a helpful link to our online pharmacy search tool. They can enter their address/city/state or their zip code to begin searching.
Can my patients obtain maintenance medications at a standard network pharmacy?
While pharmacies in the standard network often fill prescriptions for both acute and maintenance medications, we encourage your patients who will be moving to the standard network in 2021 to use home delivery or their 90-day retail benefit after January 1, 2021, such as Retail 90 or Rx Maintenance 90, depending on their benefit design, to fill prescriptions for maintenance medications and possibly save on their out-of-pocket cost.
If my patients have questions about the new standard pharmacy network or need help with having their prescriptions transferred, whom should they contact?
If your patients have questions, they can call Pharmacy Member Services at the phone number on their member ID card.
Prior authorization updates
Effective for dates of service on and after April 1, 2021, the following specialty pharmacy codes from current or new clinical criteria documents will be included in our prior authorization review process.
Please note, inclusion of National Drug Code (NDC) code on your claim will help expedite claim processing of drugs billed with a Not Otherwise Classified (NOC) code.
Click here to access the Clinical Criteria information.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem)’s prior authorization clinical review of non-oncology specialty pharmacy drugs will be managed by Anthem’s medical specialty drug review team. Review of specialty pharmacy drugs for oncology indications will be managed by AIM Specialty Health® (AIM), a separate company and are shown in italics in the table below.
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Clinical Criteria
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HCPCS or CPT Code(s)
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Drug
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*ING-CC-0095
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J9041
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Velcade (Bortezomib)
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*ING-CC-0095
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J9044
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Bortezomib
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|
*ING-CC-0093
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J9171
|
Docetaxel
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|
*ING-CC-0181
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J3490
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Veklury
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* Non-oncology use is managed by Anthem’s medical specialty drug review team. Oncology use is managed by AIM.
Update on Ocrevus step therapy notification
Ocrevus will still be non-preferred as noted below, but please note that the step therapy criteria have been updated since the last publication.
Effective for dates of service on and after February 1, 2021, the following specialty pharmacy codes from current or new clinical criteria documents will be included in our existing specialty pharmacy medical step therapy review process.
Click here to access the step therapy information for Ocrevus.
Anthem’s prior authorization clinical review of non-oncology specialty pharmacy drugs will be managed by Anthem’s medical specialty drug review team.
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Clinical Criteria
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Status
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Drug(s)
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HCPCS Codes
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|
ING-CC-0011
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Non-preferred
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Ocrevus
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J2350
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Correction to a prior authorization update
In the November 2020 edition of Provider News, we published a correction to an article originally published in the October 2020 Provider News regarding clinical criteria ING-CC-0174 for the drug Kesimpta. Please disregard the November update and refer to the original article published in October 2020 for the correct HCPCS codes. For your convenience, we’ve also listed the correct HCPCS codes for Kesimpta below.
- NOC codes J3490, J3590 and C9399 are valid codes for Kesimpta. Code J9302 is not a valid code for the drug Kesimpta.
On August 21, 2020, the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee approved Clinical Criteria applicable to the medical drug benefit for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. These policies were developed, revised or reviewed to support clinical coding edits.
The Clinical Criteria is publicly available on the provider websites, and the effective dates will be reflected in the Clinical Criteria Web Posting August 2020. Visit Clinical Criteria to search for specific policies.
If you have questions or would like additional information, use this email.
Effective for dates of service on and after March 14, 2021, the following updates will apply to the AIM Specialty Health®* (AIM) Advanced Imaging of the Heart and Diagnostic Coronary Angiography Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines.
Evaluation of patients with cardiac arrhythmias:
- Updated repeat transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) criteria.
- Added restrictions for patients whose initial echocardiogram shows no evidence of structural heart disease, and follow-up echocardiography is not appropriate for ongoing management of arrhythmia.
Evaluation of signs, symptoms or abnormal testing:
- Added restrictions for TTE in evaluation of palpitation and lightheadedness based on literature.
Diagnostic coronary angiography:
- Updated criteria to evaluate patients with suspected congenital coronary artery anomalies.
As a reminder, ordering and servicing providers may submit prior authorization requests to AIM Specialty Health®* (AIM) in one of several ways:
- Access the AIM ProviderPortalSM directly at aimspecialtyhealth.com/providerportal.
- Online access is available 24/7 to process orders and is the fastest and most convenient way to request authorization.
- Access AIM via the Availity* Portal at availity.com.
- Call the AIM Contact Center toll-free number at 1-800-714-0040 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT
For questions related to guidelines, please contact AIM via email at aim.guidelines@aimspecialtyhealth.com. Additionally, you may access and download a copy of the current and upcoming guidelines here.
The following updates will apply to the AIM Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines for Advanced Imaging for claims with dates of service on and after March 14, 2021.
Chest imaging, and head and neck imaging
Hoarseness, dysphonia and vocal cord weakness/paralysis — primary voice complaint:
- Required laryngoscopy for the initial evaluation of all patients with primary voice complaint
Brain imaging, and head and neck imaging
Hearing loss:
- Added CT temporal bone for evaluation of sensorineural hearing loss in any pediatric patients or in adults for whom MRI is non-diagnostic or unable to be performed
- Higher allowed threshold for consecutive frequencies to establish sensorineural hearing loss
- Removed CT brain as an alternative to evaluating hearing loss based on ACR guidance
Tinnitus:
- Removed sudden onset symmetric tinnitus as an indication for advanced imaging
Head and neck imaging
Sinusitis/rhinosinusitis:
- Added more flexibility for the method of conservative treatment in chronic sinusitis
- Required conservative management prior to repeat imaging for patients with prior sinus CT
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction:
- Removed requirement for radiographs/ultrasound
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak of the skull base:
- Added scenario for management of known leak with change in clinical condition
Brain imaging
Ataxia, congenital or hereditary:
- Combined with congenital cerebral anomalies to create one section
Acoustic neuroma:
- More frequent imaging for a watch and wait or incomplete resection
- New indication for neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF 2)Neurofibromatosis type 2
- More frequent imaging when MRI shows findings suspicious for recurrence
- Single post-operative MRI following gross total resection
- Included pediatrics with known acoustics (rare but NF 2)
Tumor — not otherwise specified:
- Repurposed for surveillance imaging of low grade neoplasms
Seizure disorder and epilepsy:
- Limited imaging for the management of established generalized epilepsy
- Required optimal medical management (aligning adult and pediatric language) prior to imaging for management in epilepsy
Headache:
- Removed response to treatment as a primary headache red flag
- Include pregnancy as a red flag risk factor
Mental status change and encephalopathy:
- Added requirement for initial clinical and lab evaluation to assess for a more specific cause
Oncologic imaging
General enhancements — Updates to Scope/Definitions, general language standardization
General content enhancements — Overall alignment with current National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommendations, resulting in:
- Removal of indications/parameters not addressed by NCCN
- Average risk inclusion criteria for CT colonography
- New allowances for MRI abdomen and/or MRI pelvis by tumor type, liver metastatic disease
- New indications for acute leukemia (CT, PET/CT), multiple myeloma (MRI, PET/CT), ovarian cancer surveillance (CT), bone sarcoma (PET/CT)
- Updated standard imaging prerequisites prior to PET/CT for bladder/renal pelvis/ureter, ectal, esophageal/GE junction, gastric and non-small cell lung cancers
- Additional PET/CT management scenarios for cervical cancer, Hodgkin Lymphoma
Other content enhancements by section
Cancer screening: New indication for pancreatic cancer screening
Breast cancer: New PET/CT indication for restaging/treatment response for bone-only metastatic disease and limitation of post-treatment breast MRI after breast conserving therapy or unilateral mastectomy
Prostate cancer: MRI pelvis: removal of TRUS biopsy requirement, allowance if persistent/unexplained elevation in PSA or suspicious DRE
Axumin PET/CT: Updated inclusion criteria (removal of general MRI pelvis requirement, additional allowance for rising PSA with non-diagnostic mpMRI)
As a reminder, ordering and servicing providers may submit prior authorization requests to AIM Specialty Health®* (AIM) in one of several ways:
- Access the AIM ProviderPortalSM directly at aimspecialtyhealth.com/providerportal.
- Online access is available 24/7 to process orders and is the fastest and most convenient way to request authorization.
- Access AIM via the Availity* Portal at availity.com.
- Call the AIM Contact Center toll-free number at 1-800-714-0040 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT
For questions related to guidelines, please contact AIM via email at aim.guidelines@aimspecialtyhealth.com. Additionally, you may access and download a copy of the current and upcoming guidelines here.
The Medicare Risk Adjustment Regulatory Compliance team at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield offers two provider training programs regarding Medicare risk adjustment and documentation guidelines. Information for each training is outlined below.
Medicare risk adjustment and documentation guidance (General):
- Series: Offered the first Wednesday of each month from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M. (ET)*
- Learning objective: This onboarding training will provide an overview of Medicare risk adjustment, including the risk adjustment factor and the hierarchical condition category (HCC) model, with guidance on medical record documentation and coding.
- Credits: This live activity, Medicare risk adjustment and documentation guidance, from January 8, 2020 to December 2, 2020, has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 1.00 prescribed credit(s) by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
To learn how providers play a critical role in facilitating the risk adjustment process, register for one of the monthly training sessions at this link: https://bit.ly/2TYMgbn
* Note: Dates may be modified due to holiday scheduling
Medicare risk adjustment, documentation and coding guidance (Condition specific)
- Series: Offered the third Wednesday of each month from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M. (ET)
- Learning objective: This training series will provide in-depth disease information pertaining to specific conditions, including an overview of their corresponding hierarchical condition categories (HCC), with guidance on documentation and coding.
- Credits: This live series activity, Medicare risk adjustment documentation and coding guidance, from January 15, 2020 to November 18, 2020, has been reviewed and is acceptable for credit by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity
For those interested in the following training topics, please register at this link: https://bit.ly/2IgxDO9
* Note: Enter the password provided, and the recording will play upon registration.
- Red flag HCCs
- Neoplasms
- Acute, chronic and status conditions
- Diabetes mellitus and other metabolic disorders
- Coinciding conditions in risk adjustment models
Please note that the original training events have been modified due to a transition within WebEx as of August 1, 2020. The date and time of the events have not changed but the program link and invitation detail have been updated. Previously registered participants will need to re-register for a training event using the updated registration link(s) provided in this announcement.
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