Appeal type: Practitioner Services
Decision: Unfavorable

We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for the nutria-pharmaceutical injections and treatment with a Sanexas device reported on August 27, 2020.

You asked the Plan to pay for the nutria-pharmaceutical injections and treatment with a Sanexas device. You say that the nutria-pharmaceutical injections and treatment with a Sanexas device reported on August 27, 2020. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says the nutria-pharmaceutical injections and treatment with a Sanexas device

The Plan must follow Medicare rules. Medicare rules say that providers must report services correctly. Providers must report services with the appropriate CPT code.

The rules say that providers must report services correctly. Procedures should be reported with the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes that describe the services performed. You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare National Correct Coding Initiative Policy Manual for Medicare Services, Chapter I(A).
Medicare rules state that in order for physician-provided drugs to be covered, the medical records must document the name of the drug administered as well as the dosage.  You can find this rule at National Government Services Job Aids and Manuals, Drugs and Biologicals--Coding and Billing Guidelines.

In this case, the HCPCS/CPT Code Manual definition of code 97016 is application of blood vessel compression or decompression device to 1 or more areas. The HCPCS/CPT Code Manual definition of code 97032 is application of a modality to 1 or more areas; electrical stimulation (manual), each 15 minutes. The CPCS/CPT Code Manual definition of code 97150 is therapeutic procedure(s), group (2 or more individuals). The HCPCS/CPT Code Manual definition of code 96372 is therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); subcutaneous or intramuscular. The HCPCS/CPT Code Manual definition of code J3490 is unclassified drug injection. The HCPCS/CPT Code Manual definition of code J3411 is injection, thiamine hcl, 100 mg. The HCPCS/CPT Code Manual definition of code J3415 is injection, pyridoxine hcl, 100 mg. 

We find that HCPCS/CPT codes 97016, 97032, and 97150 are not supported in the medical record. Specifically, the record does not support that a blood vessel compression device was applied. The manufacturer of the Sanexas device describes it as an electric cell signaling energy wave device, which does not meet the criteria to report CPT code 97016. The record also does not support that manual electrical stimulation was applied to any area for any amount of time. The record states that the Sanexas device was applied using standard programs. This does not support constant direct patient contact, which is required to report CPT code 97032. The record also does not support that therapeutic procedures in a group of 2 or more was performed. The record does not mention any therapeutic procedures, or the presence of any other patients receiving therapy at the same time; the criteria for reporting CPT code 97150 has not been met. 

Payment for HCPCS/CPT codes 96372, J3490, J3411, and J3415 are not supported. Specifically, the record does not contain documentation of the dosage and type of drug administered in each injection, which is required by Medicare for these services to be reimbursed. 

Based on this information, we decided that Medicare rules for coverage of the nutria-pharmaceutical injections and treatment with a Sanexas device have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have to pay for the nutria-pharmaceutical injections and treatment with a Sanexas device reported on August 27, 2020.