Persius/hicric huggingface dataset:
Appeal type: Home Health
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve additional home health aide hours. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve home health aide. You say that you need additional aide hours as you 
cannot care for yourself. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says the denial of authorization for additional 
home health aide hours is correct. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that HHA services may be covered if it is medically 
necessary for the enrollee to receive skilled nursing or therapy.  
 
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 home health aide. Our reviewer says 
that you do not meet the Medicare criteria for the requested additional home health aide hours. Our physician 
reviewer found there is no documentation that the requested home health aide services are needed for the 
treatment of an illness or injury by skilled professional staff. 
 We looked at this physician's review, the file, and Medicare rules. Based on this information, we decided that 
Medicare rules for coverage of home health aide have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does 
not have to pre-approve additional home health aide hours.
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 the enrollee appears to be more stable and improving which should only require 
short-term additional acute care services that can be safely administered at the current facility until appropriate 
for a lower level of care. There are no services at the LTACH that the enrollee requires that are not already 
available and covered at the current facility. Transfer to a lower level of care may be considered when 
treatment has completed. 
 
 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: Imaging
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for imaging and revascularization services provided to the 
enrollee on July 22, 2021. 
 
You asked the Plan to pay for the services. You say that this should be paid for. The Plan denied your request. 
The Plan says the denied codes remain not supported. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. Medicare rules say that providers must report services correctly. 
Providers must report services with the appropriate CPT code. 
 
In this case, the CPT Code Manual definition of the denied codes is: 
 
CPT 37233: 
 
Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, tibial/peroneal artery, unilateral, each additional vessel; 
with atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed (List separately in addition to 
code for primary procedure) 
 
 CPT 75625: 
 
Aortography, abdominal, by serialography, radiological supervision and interpretation 
 
We asked our coder to carefully review the case file and apply the relevant Medicare rules to determine if the 
Plan was correct in denying the request to pay for the services. Our reviewer says that the services at issue in 
this case were not supported by the medical records. Our reviewer found that in terms of CPT 37233, the 
operative report does not describe angioplasty to confirm all criteria for this procedure has been performed. In 
terms of CPT 75625, the operative report does not include documentation of an abdominal aortography by 
serialgraphy, radiological supervision and interpretation per NCCI Policy Manual. 
 
We looked at this coder's review, the file, and Medicare rules. Based on this information, we decided that 
Medicare rules for coverage of the services have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not 
have to pay for imaging and revascularization services provided to the enrollee on July 22, 2021.
Appeal type: DME/ Orthotics
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve a r Freestyle Libre 14 Day Reader and Sensor for the 
enrollee. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve a r Freestyle Libre 14 Day Reader and Sensor. You say that a Freestyle 
Libre 14 Day Reader and Sensor is medically necessary. The Plan denied your request. During the prior 
authorization request, it was state the enrollee takes insulin 4 times daily. The Plan requested medical records 
to support this statement. The Plan says the medical records provided show the enrollee is only treated with two 
administrations of insulin a day.  
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. Medicare rules say that therapeutic CGMs are considered medically 
reasonable and necessary for enrollees with diabetes who use insulin with at least three daily administrations, 
require frequent self-adjustment of insulin dosage based on the blood glucose testing results and have had an 
in-person visit with their treating physician to assess adherence.  We looked at the file and Medicare rules. The documentation indicates that the enrollee does not perform blood 
glucose testing at least four times per day, use insulin with at least three daily injections, require frequent self-
adjustment of insulin dosage based on the blood glucose testing results, have had an in-person visit with their 
treating physician to assesses adherence to their CGM regimen and diabetes treatment plan. Based on this 
information, we decided that Medicare rules for coverage of a r Freestyle Libre 14 Day Reader and Sensor have 
not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve a r Freestyle Libre 14 Day 
Reader and Sensor for the enrollee.
Appeal type: Surgery
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for the astigmatism correcting function of intraocular lens 
provided on August 18, 2021.  
You asked the Plan to pay for the vision services. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says this is not a 
covered benefit. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that Medicare does not cover routine vision services and 
eyewear.  
 
The services you asked the Plan to pay for are considered routine vision services or eyewear. Therefore, we 
decided that the Plan does not have to pay for the astigmatism correcting function of intraocular lens provided 
on August 18, 2021.
Appeal type: Hospice
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for skilled nursing facility services provided from August 8, 
2021, through August 22, 2021. 
 
You asked the Plan to pay for skilled nursing facility services. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says 
Original Medicare is responsible for payment. 
  Medicare rules say that Original Medicare, not the Plan, is responsible for all Medicare-covered non-hospice 
services. Original Medicare is responsible for payment for services until the first day of the month after the 
hospice election has been revoked or terminated. 
 
The enrollee ended Medicare Hospice benefits on August 4, 2021. The services in question were provided 
before the end of that month. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have to pay for skilled nursing 
facility services provided from August 8, 2021, through August 22, 2021.
Appeal type: Inpatient Hospital
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve admission to a long term acute care hospital (LTACH) 
for the enrollee. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve the LTACH services. You say that this is medically necessary. The Plan 
denied your request. The Plan says the enrollee is receiving appropriate in-patient acute care and is currently 
unstable for transfer to an LTACH. 
 
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 there is no documentation provided indicating medical necessity for admission to a 
LTACH. The enrollee is receiving appropriate care at the present acute care hospital. The enrollee does not 
require services at the LTACH that are not available at the acute care hospital where he/she is currently 
receiving care. There are no services available at the LTACH that the enrollee requires 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 admission to a long term acute care hospital (LTACH) for the enrollee.
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 the enrollee appears to be somewhat unstable and requires short-term additional acute 
care services that can be safely administered at the current facility until more stable. There are no services at 
the LTACH that the enrollee requires that are not already available and covered at the current facility. Transfer 
to LTACH is not medically necessary as it would not be clinically advantageous and as the enrollee is too 
unstable without more permanent feeding source and stable breathing status. Transfer may be considered when 
treatment has completed and the enrollee is more stable. 
 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: 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 this is medically necessary. The Plan denied your 
request. The Plan says the criteria for admission to acute inpatient rehabilitation is not 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 the complexity of your nursing, medical and rehabilitation needs does not require an 
acute hospital inpatient stay with an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation care.  You were admitted for pneumonia. Medical problems are stable. There are no complex nursing or rehabilitation 
needs. You do not require treatment by multiple therapies, including either physical therapy or occupational 
therapy, and an intensive rehabilitation therapy program. While the medical record supports a need for physical 
and/or occupational therapy, there is no documented need for intensive rehabilitation services. Medically 
necessary care can be provided in a different level of care. 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: 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 LTACH care is medically appropriate 
for the enrollee in this case. You say that the enrollee is medically stable to be transferred. You say that the 
enrollee continues to require hospitalization and will require extensive rehabilitative therapies to regain 
strength and functional quality of life. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says the guidelines for coverage 
have not been met. The Plan says that the enrollee can safely receive the care needed in another setting. 
 
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 the enrollee appears to be stable and improving and should only require short-term 
additional acute care services including additional weaning that can be safely completed at the current location 
until appropriate for transfer to a lower level of care. The enrollee does not require services at the LTACH that 
are not already available at the current facility.  There are no services at the LTACH that the patient requires that are not already available and covered at the 
current acute care facility. Transfer to LTACH is not medically necessary as it would not be clinically 
advantageous at this time. Transfer to a lower level of care may be considered when treatment is completed. 
 
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: SNF
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve a continued skilled nursing facility (SNF) admission 
from April 16, 2022, forward. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve the continued SNF care. You say that you need more time to get stronger 
mentally and physically. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says criteria for a continued SNF stay have not been met. Skilled services can be provided on an intermittent outpatient basis, in a long-term care facility, 
or at the home with home health care services 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that Medicare pays for care in a SNF when the four factors 
listed in the Medicare rules section are met. Custodial care is not covered. 
 
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 continued SNF care. Our reviewer 
says that daily skilled services are not necessary. Our physician reviewer found that you do not have daily 
skilled nursing needs that require the specialized skill, knowledge, and judgment of a skilled professional 
nurse. You do not have daily skilled therapy needs that require the specialized skill, knowledge, and judgment 
of a skilled professional therapist. You do not require daily skilled nursing and/or skilled therapy on an 
inpatient basis in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) setting. 
 
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 continued SNF care have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan 
does not have to pre-approve a continued skilled nursing facility (SNF) admission from April 16, 2022, 
forward.
Appeal type: Transportation
Decision: Favorable

 
We decided that the Plan has to pay for the ambulance service, basic life support, emergency transport 
(A0429), and ground mileage (A0425) provided on August 17, 2021. 
 
You asked the Plan to pay for the ambulance services. You say that the enrollee was transported twice on the 
same date of service. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says that the services were not medically 
necessary. 
 
Medicare pays for ambulance services only when an emergency exists or when other means of transport would 
endanger the patients health. The Plan follows the same rules.  
 
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 pay for the ambulance services. Our reviewer says 
that the ambulance services were medically necessary. Our physician reviewer found the reviewer found that 
the provided documentation indicates that the enrollees presenting symptoms met prudent layperson criteria 
for emergency care. Therefore, the reviewer found that the ambulance services were 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 ambulance services have been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan has 
to pay for the ambulance service, basic life support, emergency transport (A0429), and ground mileage 
(A0425) provided on August 17, 2021.  
 
If the Plan does not agree with our decision, they can ask us to open a case again. We only open a case again 
if we believe there was a mistake or if there is new information to review. The Plan has to show us the mistake 
and/or send us the new information. This does not happen often. If we decide to open the case again, we will 
send you a letter.
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 this is medically necessary. The Plan denied your 
request. The Plan says the enrollee does not meet the Medicare criteria for admission to an Inpatient 
Rehabilitation Facility (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 the complexity of your nursing, medical and rehabilitation needs does not require an 
acute hospital inpatient stay with an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation care. You were admitted for 
sepsis, hyponatremia and hypokalemia after recent lumbar spine surgery. Medical problems are stable. There 
are no complex nursing or rehabilitation needs. You do not require treatment by multiple therapies, including 
either physical therapy or occupational therapy, and an intensive rehabilitation therapy program. While the 
medical record supports a need for physical and/or occupational therapy, there is no documented need for 
intensive rehabilitation services. Medically necessary care can be provided in a different level of care. 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.