Persius/hicric huggingface dataset:
Appeal type: Lab
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for the laboratory services rendered on October 1, 2021. 
 
You asked the Plan to pay for these services. You say that you disagree with the denial. The Plan denied your 
request. The Plan says the services are not separately payable. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that all ESRD-related laboratory services are included in 
the ESRD PPS base rate and must be reported by the ESRD facility and are not separately paid. 
 
We looked at the file and Medicare rules. The file shows that the laboratory services were rendered for end-
stage renal disease (ESRD). Payment is included in the payment to the ESRD facility. Therefore, we decided 
that the Plan does not have to pay for the laboratory services rendered on October 1, 2021.
Appeal type: Drugs
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve Euflexxa. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve Euflexxa. You say that this is medically necessary. The Plan denied your 
request. The Plan says that you do not have any stated contraindications to the preferred products. 
 
Medicare covers Part B medications when they are reasonable and necessary but allows health plans to 
implement step therapy criteria. The Plan's contract indicates that it has implemented such criteria for certain Part B medications. 
 
We asked our physician reviewer to carefully review the case file and apply the relevant Medicare rules to 
determine if the Plan was correct in denying the request to pre-approve Euflexxa. Our reviewer says that 
Euflexxa is not medically reasonable and necessary. The Plan requires a trial of Orthovisc, Synvisc or Synvisc-
One before they will approve the requested drug. In this case, you have not tried and failed the required drugs. 
There is no documentation provided indicating that the Plan's required drugs would likely be less effective 
and/or likely have adverse effects for you. Our physician reviewer found that your condition does not meet step 
therapy criteria for Euflexxa. 
 
We looked at this physician's review, the file, and Medicare rules. Based on this information, we decided that 
Medicare rules for coverage of Euflexxa have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have 
to pre-approve Euflexxa.
Appeal type: Drugs
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for the etelcalcetide injection rendered on June 1, 2021 to June 
29, 2021. 
 
You asked the Plan to pay for these services. You say that you disagree with the denial. The Plan denied your 
request. The Plan says the services are not covered. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that all drugs and biologicals used for the treatment of 
ESRD are included in the ESRD PPS and are not separately paid as of January 1, 2011.  
 
We looked at the file and Medicare rules. The file shows that the drug was rendered for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treatment. Payment for these services is included in the ESRD facility payment. Therefore, we decided 
that the Plan does not have to pay for the etelcalcetide injection rendered on June 1, 2021 to June 29, 2021.
Appeal type: Home Health
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve 7 home health physical therapy visits. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve the physical therapy visits. You say that you would like reconsideration 
because the home health services are medically necessary. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says you do 
not meet Medicare criteria for coverage. 
 The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that home health care services may be covered if it is 
medically necessary for the enrollee to receive skilled nursing or therapy. A doctor must certify the need for 
home health care services. 
 
We asked our physician reviewer to carefully review the case file and apply the relevant Medicare rules to 
determine if the Plan was correct in denying the request to pre-approve the physical therapy visits. Our 
reviewer says that the documentation doesnt support that you require additional skilled rehab services to 
provide treatment that is medically necessary.  
 Our physician reviewer found you have been medically stable without any recent exacerbations of chronic 
medical problems or hospitalizations.  The requested home health services are not medically necessary. 
 
We looked at this physician's review, the file, and Medicare rules. Based on this information, we decided that 
Medicare rules for coverage of the physical therapy visits have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the 
Plan does not have to pre-approve 7 home health physical therapy visits.
Appeal type: DME/ Orthotics
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for the compression stockings identified with code A6533 that 
were issued on December 30, 2021. 
 
You asked the Plan to pay for the compression stockings. You say that you disagree with the denial. The Plan 
denied your request. The Plan says the services are not covered. 
 The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that compression stockings described by code A6533 are 
noncovered because they do not meet the statutory definition of a surgical dressing.  
 
Although this item may be appropriate, it does not fall into a covered benefit category and cannot be paid for 
by Medicare or the Plan. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have to pay for the compression 
stockings identified with code A6533 that were issued on December 30, 2021.
Appeal type: Drugs
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve Azathioprine. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve Azathioprine. You say that this drug is medically reasonable and necessary. 
The Plan denied your request. The Plan says this drug is not covered under the enrollee's medical benefit. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that Medicare Part B generally does not pay for self-
administered drugs. The self-administered drugs requested here are not among the types which are covered by 
Medicare Part B. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve Azathioprine.  
 
Benefits for Azathioprine may be available under Medicare Part D. Contact the Plan that administers Part D 
benefits for further information concerning any benefits and appeal rights.
Appeal type: Practitioner Services
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for the therapeutic exercises (97110) rendered by the out-of-
network (OON) provider on May 31, 2021. 
 
You asked the Plan to pay for these services. You say that you are requesting a reconsideration of the Plan's 
denial for payment. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says the services were rendered by an out of 
network provider, without prior authorization. 
 
Medicare rules say that plans can require enrollees to get care from network providers. The contract with the 
Plan says that the Plan has to pay for care from out-of-network providers only in cases involving emergencies, 
out of area urgent care and pre-approved care. 
 
 
 The provider in this case is not a network provider with the Plan. The Plan had network providers available 
who could have provided the services at issue in this appeal. The Plan did not pre-approve the services at issue. 
We found no exception that would require the Plan to pay for these services. Therefore, we decided that the 
Plan does not have to pay for the therapeutic exercises (97110) rendered by the out-of-network (OON) provider 
on May 31, 2021.
Appeal type: Inpatient Hospital
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) admission 
and services. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve IRF care. You say that your conditions require skilled care. The Plan denied 
your request. The Plan says you do not meet the Medicare criteria for admission to an IRF. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that IRF admission is covered only when it is medically 
reasonable and necessary as described in the Medicare rules section. 
 
We asked our physician reviewer to carefully review the case file and apply the relevant Medicare rules to 
determine if the Plan was correct in denying the request to pre-approve IRF care. Our reviewer says that the 
requested IRF care is not considered medically reasonable and necessary based on Medicare guidelines.  
 Our physician reviewer found that the complexity of your nursing, medical and rehabilitation needs does not 
require an acute hospital inpatient stay with an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation care. Medical 
problems are stable. There are no complex nursing or rehabilitation needs. While the documentation does 
support a need for physical and/or occupational therapy, there is no documented need for an intensive, multi-
disciplinary rehabilitation program. There is not a reasonable expectation that you will be able to fully 
participate in and benefit from the intensive rehabilitation therapy program provided in an IRF. 
 
We looked at this physician's review, the file, and Medicare rules. Based on this information, we decided that 
Medicare rules for coverage of IRF care have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have 
to pre-approve acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) admission and services.
Appeal type: Lab
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for the laboratory services rendered on May 20, 2021. 
 
You asked the Plan to pay for these services. You say that you disagree with the denial. The Plan denied your 
request. The Plan says the services were not billed correctly. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. Medicare rules say that lab services, the POS code must reflect the 
location in which the sample was taken. POS code 81 is used to describe samples taken by the laboratory 
directly. 
 We looked at the file and Medicare rules. Based on this information, we decided that Medicare rules for 
coverage of these services have not been met. Specifically, this claim was billed with the laboratory POS code. 
The records do not support that the sample was taken in a laboratory setting. Therefore, we decided that the 
Plan does not have to pay for the laboratory services rendered on May 20, 2021.
Appeal type: Drugs
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve the Rhopressa Solution. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve the Rhopressa Solution. You say that you would like reconsideration 
because this drug is medically necessary. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says this drug is not covered 
under Medicare Part B. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that Medicare Part B generally does not pay for self-
administered drugs. The self-administered drugs requested here are not among the types which are covered by 
Medicare Part B. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve the Rhopressa Solution.  
 Benefits for the Rhopressa Solution may be available under Medicare Part D. Contact the Plan that administers 
Part D benefits for further information concerning any benefits and appeal rights.
Appeal type: Inpatient Hospital
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) admission 
and services. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve IRF care. You say that the requested IRF care is a medical necessity for the 
enrollee. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says medical necessity rules for IRF care have not been met. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that IRF admission is covered only when it is medically 
reasonable and necessary as described in the Medicare rules section. 
 
  
We asked our physician reviewer to carefully review the case file and apply the relevant Medicare rules to 
determine if the Plan was correct in denying the request to pre-approve IRF care. Our reviewer says that the 
requested IRF care is not considered medically reasonable and necessary based on Medicare guidelines. Our 
physician reviewer found that the complexity of the enrollee's nursing, medical, and rehabilitation needs does 
not require an acute hospital inpatient stay with an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation care. While the 
enrollee has a need for physical and/or occupational therapy, there is no documentation of a need for an 
intensive rehabilitation program. There is not a reasonable expectation that the enrollee will be able to fully 
participate in and benefit from the intensive rehabilitation therapy program provided in an IRF. 
 
We looked at this physician's review, the file, and Medicare rules. Based on this information, we decided that 
Medicare rules for coverage of IRF care have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have 
to pre-approve acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) admission and services.
Appeal type: Inpatient Hospital
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve long term acute care hospital (LTACH) services. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve the LTACH services. You say that the requested admission to a LTACH is 
medically necessary. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says the requested admission to a LTACH does 
not meet criteria. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that LTACH services are covered if they are medically 
necessary, reasonable, and appropriate for the diagnosis and condition of the enrollee. 
 
We asked our physician reviewer to carefully review the case file and apply the relevant Medicare rules to 
determine if the Plan was correct in denying the request to pre-approve the LTACH services. Our reviewer says 
that the requested LTACH care is not considered medically reasonable and necessary in this case. Our 
physician reviewer found you are receiving appropriate care at the present acute care hospital.  There are no 
services available at the LTACH that you require that are not available at the health care setting being offered 
by the health plan. The requested LTACH services are not medically necessary, reasonable, and appropriate for 
the diagnosis and condition of the enrollee and able to be furnished safely and effectively only on an inpatient 
basis. 
 
 We looked at this physician's review, the file, and Medicare rules. Based on this information, we decided that 
Medicare rules for coverage of the LTACH services have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan 
does not have to pre-approve long term acute care hospital (LTACH) services.
Appeal type: Drugs
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve onabotulinumtoxina (Botox) (J0585) 200 units every 3 
months for 1 year. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve Botox. You say that the requested drug is medically necessary. The Plan 
denied your request. The Plan says the requested drug is not approved by the FDA for the enrollee's diagnosis. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that Medicare may pay for unlabeled uses for FDA-
approved drugs if they are medically accepted as safe and effective or appropriate for the particular use.  
 
We asked our physician reviewer to carefully review the case file and apply the relevant Medicare rules to 
determine if the Plan was correct in denying the request to pre-approve Botox. Our reviewer says that the 
requested drug is not medically necessary. Our physician reviewer found the Food and Drug Administration 
has not stated that the requested drug is indicated for the enrollee's condition. The Medicare approved drug 
compendia do not contain a supportive citation for the use of the requested drug in the enrollee's clinical 
situation. Therefore, the reviewer found that the requested drug is not medically reasonable or necessary. 
 
We looked at this physician's review, the file, and Medicare rules. Based on this information, we decided that 
Medicare rules for coverage of Botox have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have to 
pre-approve onabotulinumtoxina (Botox) (J0585) 200 units every 3 months for 1 year.
Appeal type: Practitioner Services
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for ophthalmological services provided on February 25, 2021, 
by an out-of-network (OON) provider. 
 
You asked the Plan to pay for ophthalmological services. You say that last year your exam fee was reimbursed, 
and there is no statement in the 2021 changes literature that states your exam will not be reimbursed for vision. 
The Plan denied your request. The Plan says the member does not have out-of-network benefits. 
 
Medicare rules say that plans can require enrollees to get care from network providers. The contract with the 
Plan says that the Plan has to pay for care from out-of-network providers only in cases involving emergencies, 
out of area urgent care and pre-approved care. 
 
The requested provider in this case is not a network provider with the Plan. The Plan had network providers 
available who could have provided the items/services at issue in this appeal. The Plan did not pre-approve the item/service at issue. We found no exception that would require the Plan to pay for these items/services. 
Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have to pay for ophthalmological services provided on February 
25, 2021, by an out-of-network (OON) provider.
Appeal type: Imaging
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to waive the copayment for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 
(72141) provided on December 5, 2021. 
 
You asked the Plan to waive the copayment for the MRI. You say that the services should be covered as you 
disagree with the charges. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says the cost-sharing applied correctly based 
on the services provided. 
 
The rules say a plan must disclose to its enrollees in clear, accurate terms all cost sharing information (such as 
copayments, deductibles and coinsurance). Your contract with the Plan clearly says that you must pay a $250 
copayment for Outpatient diagnostic tests and therapeutic services and supplies.  
 
 
  You have been asked to pay a $250 copayment for an MRI. MRIs fall within the Outpatient diagnostic tests 
and therapeutic services and supplies benefit category. This means that you have been asked to pay the correct 
amount based on your contract with the Plan. This cost sharing is a contractual obligation you agreed to pay 
when you enrolled in the Plan. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have to waive the copayment for 
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (72141) provided on December 5, 2021.
Appeal type: Inpatient Hospital
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve acute inpatient hospital care related to a laparoscopic 
hysterectomy (58541). 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve acute inpatient hospital care. You say that the requested inpatient care is a 
medical necessity for the enrollee. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says medical necessity rules for 
inpatient care have not been met. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that inpatient hospital care is covered when the doctor 
expects the patient to need hospital care that crosses at least two midnights. In rare and unusual cases, 
consideration may be given to inpatient hospital care when the hospital stay does not cross two midnights or 
more.  
 
 
 We asked our physician reviewer to carefully review the case file and apply the relevant Medicare rules to 
determine if the Plan was correct in denying the request to pre-approve acute inpatient hospital care. Our 
reviewer says that the documentation does not support that the criteria for inpatient coverage are met in this 
case. Our physician reviewer found that the record indicates that the treating physician anticipates a stay of 24 
to 28 hours. The record does not document that the treating physician has a reasonable expectation of a length 
of stay spanning 2 or more midnights. 
 
We looked at this physician's review, the file, and Medicare rules. Based on this information, we decided that 
Medicare rules for coverage of acute inpatient hospital care have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the 
Plan does not have to pre-approve acute inpatient hospital care related to a laparoscopic hysterectomy (58541).
Appeal type: Drugs
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve Repatha SureClick. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve Repatha SureClick. You say that you would like reconsideration based on 
the records submitted. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says Repatha SureClick is not covered under 
Medicare Part B. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that Medicare Part B generally does not pay for self-
administered drugs. The self-administered drugs requested here are not among the types which are covered by 
Medicare Part B. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve Repatha SureClick.  
 
Benefits for Repatha SureClick may be available under Medicare Part D. Contact the Plan that administers Part 
D benefits for further information concerning any benefits and appeal rights.
Appeal type: Transportation
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to waive the copayment for ambulance service, basic life support, 
emergency transport provided on December 13, 2021. 
 
You asked the Plan to waive the copayment for ambulance service, basic life support, emergency transport. 
You say that you are unable to afford the $350 copayment. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says you 
were charged the correct cost sharing amount. 
 
The rules say a plan must disclose to its enrollees in clear, accurate terms all cost sharing information (such as 
copayments, deductibles and coinsurance). Your contract with the Plan clearly says that you must pay a $350 
copayment per trip for ambulance services.  
 
 
 You have been asked to pay a $350 copayment per trip for ambulance service, basic life support, emergency 
transport. This means that you have been asked to pay the correct amount based on your contract with the Plan. 
This cost sharing is a contractual obligation you agreed to pay when you enrolled in the Plan. Therefore, we 
decided that the Plan does not have to waive the copayment for ambulance service, basic life support, 
emergency transport provided on December 13, 2021.