Appeal type: Medical necessity
Decision: Overturned

Diagnosis: Maxillary and mandibular crowding

Treatment: D8080 braces, D8670 monthly visits, and D8680 retainer services

The insurer denied coverage for D8080 braces, D8670 monthly visits, and D8680 retainer services.
 
The denial is overturned.

Upon review of the submitted documentation including lateral cephalometric radiograph, panoramic radiograph, montage of extraoral and intraoral clinical images, as well as insurer correspondence, it appears that this patient presented for evaluation for orthodontic care. The orthodontist recommended comprehensive orthodontics due to maxillary and mandibular crowding and deep impinging overbite among other clinical findings. The orthodontist has completed the Handicapping Labio-Lingual Deviation (HLD) index as required and has chosen the automatically qualifying condition of deep impinging overbite with severe soft tissue damage. The insurer has denied coverage for orthodontic treatment as not medically necessary as the clinical circumstance does not meet the required handicapping malocclusion medical necessity requirements. The patient's mother is appealing the denial.

Upon review of the submitted documentation, (study models were not provided for review), it is evident that the patient exhibits a significant malocclusion. However, to assess for severity of the malocclusion and therefore medical/dental necessity for orthodontic care, New York State requires, as of September 1, 2012, the use of an orthodontic Index, the Handicapping Labio-Lingual Deviation Index Report (HLD, New York State Medicaid program) modeled after Handicapping Labiolingual Deviation Index. This index provides six specific conditions that automatically qualify for orthodontic care. Additional criteria are used utilizing a point system if none of these initial qualifying conditions are met or selected. For these other secondary criteria to qualify for orthodontic care a total score of 26 points is necessary. In this case, the treating orthodontist claims an automatic qualifying condition of deep impinging overbite with severe soft tissue damage. This reviewer finds that this automatically qualifying condition criterion is met and does support comprehensive orthodontic care as on examination of the intraoral clinical images there is evidence of palatal gingival recession due to direct impingement of the teeth on the gingival soft tissues. In this case, the clinical circumstance does meet insurer and plan criteria to justify orthodontic care.

Regarding the validity of the Handicapping Labiolingual Index, it has been shown 
through scientific scrutiny in peer reviewed journals that this methodology for assessing orthodontic need is a valid approach. Each of these peer reviewed articles concludes that this index is a valid and reliable determinant of need for orthodontic care. As this is an accepted methodology, this has been determined to represent an appropriate approach for assessing orthodontic need. 

Based on the above, the insurer's denial must be overturned. The health care plan did not act reasonably and with sound medical judgment and in the best interest of the patient. 

The medical necessity for D8080 braces, D8670 monthly visits, and D8680 retainer services is substantiated.