Guideline Updates Prior AuthorizationAnthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield | Medicare AdvantageJuly 15, 2025

Prior authorization requirement changes

Effective November 1, 2025, precertification/prior authorization requirements will change for the following code(s). The medical code(s) listed below will require precertification/prior authorization by Anthem for Medicare Advantage members. Federal and state law, as well as state contract language and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guidelines, including definitions and specific contract provisions/exclusions, take precedence over these precertification rules and must be considered first when determining coverage.

If the requirements are not met, those services may be deemed ineligible for payment.

Care providers may appeal online through Availity Essentials (https://Availity.com) or contact Provider Services via the number on the back of our member ID card with additional information, which may include medical records.

Precertification/prior authorization requirements will be added for the following code(s):

This applies to all Medicare, FIDE (Fully Integrated Dual Eligible), and Institutional Special Needs Plans (I‑SNPs) offered in Virginia.

0521U

Rheumatoid factor IgA and IgM, cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies, and scavenger receptor A (SR-A) by immunoassay, blood

0524U

Obstetrics (preeclampsia), sFlt1/PlGF ratio, immunoassay, utilizing serum or plasma, reported as a value

0525U

Oncology, spheroid cell culture, 11-drug panel (carboplatin, docetaxel, doxorubicin, etoposide, gemcitabine, niraparib, olaparib, paclitaxel, rucaparib, topotecan, veliparib)

0686T

Histotripsy (i.e., non-thermal ablation via acoustic energy delivery) of malignant hepatocellular tissue, including image guidance

0888T

Histotripsy (i.e., non-thermal ablation via acoustic energy delivery) of malignant renal tissue, including imaging guidance

0935T

Cystourethroscopy with renal pelvic sympathetic denervation, radiofrequency ablation, retrograde ureteral approach, including insertion of guide wire, selective placement of ureteral sheath(s) and multiple conformable electrodes, contrast injection(s), and fluoroscopy, bilateral

60660

Percutaneous ablation of 1 or more thyroid nodule(s)

60661

Percutaneous ablation of additional lobe of thyroid nodule(s)

61715

MRI guided focused ultrasound high intensity stereotactic intracranial ablation

82233

Beta-amyloid; 1-40

82234

Beta-amyloid; 1-42

83884

Neurofilament light chain

84393

Tau, phosphorylated

84394

Tau, total

C1735

Catheter(s), intravascular for renal denervation, radiofrequency, including all single use system components

C1736

Catheter(s), intravascular for renal denervation, ultrasound, including all single use system components

C8003

Implantation of medial knee extraarticular implantable shock absorber spanning the knee joint from distal femur to proximal tibia, open, includes measurements, positioning and adjustments, with imaging guidance (e.g., fluoroscopy)

C9804

Elastomeric infusion pump (e.g., On-Q* pump with bolus), including catheter and all disposable system components, nonopioid medical device (must be a qualifying Medicare nonopioid medical device for postsurgical pain relief in accordance with Section 4135 of the CAA, 2023)

C9808

Nerve cryoablation probe (e.g., cryoICE, cryoSPHERE, cryoSPHERE MAX, cryo2), including probe and all disposable system components, nonopioid medical device (must be a qualifying Medicare nonopioid medical device for postsurgical pain relief in accordance with Section 4135 of the CAA, 2023)

C9809

Cryoablation needle (e.g., iovera system), including needle/tip and all disposable system components, nonopioid medical device (must be a qualifying Medicare nonopioid medical device for postsurgical pain relief in accordance with Section 4135 of the CAA, 2023)

E0683

Non-pneumatic, non-sequential, peristaltic wave compression pump

E0739

Rehabilitation system with interactive interface providing active assistance in rehabilitation therapy, includes all components and accessories, motors, microprocessors, sensors

E1822

Dynamic adjustable ankle extension only device, includes soft interface material

E1823

Dynamic adjustable ankle flexion only device, includes soft interface material

E1828

Dynamic adjustable toe extension only device, includes soft interface material

E1829

Dynamic adjustable toe flexion only device, includes soft interface material

This applies to FIDE (Fully Integrated Dual Eligible) and Institutional Special Needs Plans (I‑SNPs) offered in Virginia.

0909T

Replacement of integrated neurostimulation system, vagus nerve, including analysis and programming, when performed

0910T

Removal of integrated neurostimulation system, vagus nerve

0911T

Electronic analysis of implanted integrated neurostimulation system, vagus nerve; without programming by physician or other qualified health care professional

0912T

Electronic analysis of implanted integrated neurostimulation system, vagus nerve; with simple programming by physician or other qualified health care professional

15011

Harvest of skin for autograft; first

15012

Harvest of skin for autograft; each additional 25 sq cm

15013

Preparation of skin autograft, requiring enzymatic processing; first 25 sq cm or less

15014

Preparation of skin autograft, requiring enzymatic processing; each additional 25 sq cm

15015

Application of skin autograft; first 480 sq cm or less

15016

Application of skin autograft; each additional 480 sq cm

15017

Application of skin autograft; first 480 sq cm or less

15018

Application of skin autograft; each additional 480 sq cm

C8002

Preparation of skin cell suspension autograft, automated, including all enzymatic processing and device components (do not report with manual suspension preparation)

This applies to FIDE (Fully Integrated Dual Eligible) offered in Virginia.

0908T

Open implantation of integrated neurostimulation system, vagus nerve, including analysis and programming, when performed

66683

Iris prosthesis Implantation

C9807

Nerve stimulator, percutaneous, peripheral (e.g., sprint peripheral nerve stimulation system), including electrode and all disposable system components, nonopioid medical device (must be a qualifying Medicare nonopioid medical device for postsurgical pain relief in accordance with Section 4135 of the CAA, 2023)

J1414

Injection, fidanacogene elaparvovec-dzkt, per therapeutic dose

J3392

Injection, exagamglogene autotemcel, per treatment

Q4346

Shelter dm matrix, per square centimeter

Q4347

Rampart dl matrix, per square centimeter

Q4348

Sentry sl matrix, per square centimeter

Q4349

Mantle dl matrix, per square centimeter

Q4350

Palisade dm matrix, per square centimeter

Q4351

Enclose tl matrix, per square centimeter

Q4352

Overlay sl matrix, per square centimeter

Q4353

Xceed tl matrix, per square centimeter

Not all precertification/prior authorization requirements are listed here. Detailed precertification/prior authorization requirements are available to care providers on https://www.anthem.com/va/provider or for contracted care providers by accessing https://Availity.com. Care providers may also contact Provider Services via the number on the back of our member ID card for assistance with precertification/prior authorization requirements.

Published in the August 2025 Provider Newsletter
UM AROW A2025M3432 A2025M3433 A2025M3437

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and its affiliate HealthKeepers, Inc., serving all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123, are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.

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