Persius/hicric huggingface dataset:
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 enrollee is at high risk for continued falls, 
respiratory failure, skin breakdown, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), hyper/hypoglycemic episode, and 
hyper/hypotension complications. You also say the enrollee requires stringent wound care to prevent infection 
in their surgical site. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says the IRF services requested do not meet the 
requirements for approval.  
 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 the enrollees nursing, medical, and rehabilitation needs does not 
require an acute rehabilitation hospital inpatient stay with an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation care. 
The enrollee does not require treatment by multiple therapies, including either physical therapy or occupational 
therapy, at an intensive rehabilitation therapy program. The enrollee continues to have a need for skilled 
therapy with ongoing safety concerns and a potential for functional improvement. However, the documentation 
does not support that the enrollee would meet criteria for admission to an IRF.  There is no indication that the 
enrollee would require skilled rehabilitation in an IRF, participating in rehabilitation services 15 hours a week, 
under the supervision of a physician with at least 3 visits weekly to regain or maintain their functional 
status.  The enrollee can receive further services at a lower level of care.  
 
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 acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) admission 
and services. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve IRF care. You say that the IRF admission is medically necessary. The Plan 
denied your request. The Plan says the enrollee does not meet the criteria for the IRF admission.  
 
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 the enrollee's nursing, medical and rehabilitation can be provided 
in a lower level of care and does not require an acute hospital inpatient stay with an interdisciplinary approach 
to rehabilitation care. The enrollee requires treatment by multiple therapies, including physical therapy and 
occupational therapy, but this can be provided in a lower level of care. There is documentation that there is a 
reasonable expectation that this enrollee will be able to fully participate in and benefit from the intensive 
rehabilitation therapy program provided in an IRF, but the services required can be provided at a lower level of 
care.  
 
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 acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) admission 
and services. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve IRF care. You say that you say that you disagree with the denial for the 
admission to an IRF. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says these services are not medically necessary.  
 
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 the enrollee's nursing, medical and rehabilitation can be provided 
in a lower level of care and does not require an acute hospital inpatient stay with an interdisciplinary approach 
to rehabilitation care. The enrollee requires treatment by multiple therapies. There is documentation that there 
is a reasonable expectation that this enrollee will be able to fully participate in and benefit from the intensive 
rehabilitation therapy program provided in an IRF, but the services required can be provided at a lower level of 
care.  
 
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 acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) admission 
and services. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve IRF care. You say that IRF care is medically necessary. The Plan denied 
your request. The Plan says IRF care is not medically necessary.  
 
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 the enrollees nursing, medical, and rehabilitation needs do not 
require an acute rehabilitation hospital inpatient stay with an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation 
care. The enrollee does not require treatment by multiple therapies, including either physical therapy or 
occupational therapy, at an intensive rehabilitation therapy program.  The medical records do not support that 
the enrollee would meet criteria for admission to an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility.  The enrollee can 
receive further services at a lower level of care.  
 
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: Practitioner Services
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for office services provided on May 23, 2023. 
 
You asked the Plan to pay for office services. You say that you are requesting reconsideration for the denied 
claim. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says that unauthorized, out-of-network care is not covered. 
 
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 of the item(s)/service(s) at issue in this appeal is not a network provider with the Plan. The Plan 
did not pre-approve the item(s)/service(s) at issue. We found no exception that would require the Plan to pay 
for the item(s)/service(s). Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have to pay for office services provided 
on May 23, 2023.
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 services are medically necessary. The Plan 
denied your request. The Plan says the services the enrollee needs can be provided safely in another setting 
such as a skilled nursing facility, home with home health services or home with outpatient therapy.  
 
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 per occupational therapy notes dated October 23, 2023, the enrollee requires 
moderate assist with a steady device for transfers and stand-by assist with cues for bed mobility. Per therapy 
notes dated October 26, 2023, physical therapy is on hold until the enrollee is cleared to participate by 
orthopedic surgeon. The review has determined 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. There is not a reasonable expectation that this 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 acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) admission 
and services. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve IRF care. You say that the enrollee needs this care to regain strength The 
Plan denied your request. The Plan says medical records do not support the need for an IRF admission and, the 
enrollee needs can be provided at another setting.  
 
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 the enrollee's medical, rehabilitation, and nursing needs does not 
require IRF care with an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitative care. The enrollee's rehabilitation needs 
can be safely provided in an alternate 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 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: Step-Therapy
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve Eylea. 
 You asked the Plan to pre-approve Eylea. You say that you disagree with the Plan's denial. The Plan denied 
your request. The Plan says the requested drug does not meet step therapy criteria. 
 
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 Eylea. Our reviewer says that the 
documentation does not support that the requested drug meets step therapy criteria. Our physician reviewer 
found the enrollee has age related neovascular macular degeneration. The documentation does not support that 
the enrollee has tried and failed bevacizumab (Avastin) and Byooviz. The documentation does not support that 
bevacizumab (Avastin) and Byooviz would likely be less effective and/or likely have adverse effects for the 
enrollee. Therefore, the enrollee does not meet criteria for the requested drug. 
 
We looked at this physician's review, the file, and Medicare rules. Based on this information, we decided that 
Medicare rules for coverage of Eylea have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have to 
pre-approve Eylea.
Appeal type: Hospice
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for hospice care provided from February 1, 2023, to February 
28, 2023. 
 
You asked the Plan to pay for hospice care. You say that Original Medicare rejected this claim. 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. Medicare hospice pays for claims related to the terminal illness. The rules say that the Plan may direct 
the provider to bill Medicare directly for these services.  
 
The enrollee was under the Medicare hospice benefit for the dates of service at issue in this appeal. Therefore, 
we decided that the Plan does not have to pay for hospice care provided from February 1, 2023, to February 28, 
2023.
Appeal type: Lab
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for the lab panel provided on May 18, 2023. 
 
You asked the Plan to pay for the lab panel. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says the claim is not 
payable as billed. 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. Medicare rules say that a test panel is a single test with multiple 
components and is characterized by a single unit of service (UOS =1). A panel cannot be unbundled and billed 
as individual components regardless of the fact that the test reports multiple individual pathogens and/or 
targets. 
 
We looked at the file and Medicare rules. The lab panel in this case was billed with multiple codes, and not one 
unit of one code as required by LCA A58726. Based on this information, we decided that Medicare rules for 
coverage of the lab panel have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does not have to pay for the 
lab panel provided on May 18, 2023.
Appeal type: Drugs
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pre-approve injection of luspatercept-aamt, 0.25 mg (J0896). 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve luspatercept-aamt. You say that this is the first line of treatment per the 
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Plan denied your request. The Plan says the enrollee has not 
attempted treatment with an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA). 
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that Medicare may pay for unlabeled uses for anti-cancer 
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 luspatercept-aamt. Our reviewer says 
that the requested use of luspatercept-aamt is not medically necessary. Our physician reviewer found the record 
provided does not document that the enrollee has failed an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) or required two or more red blood cell unit transfusions over eight weeks. The Food and Drug Administration has not 
stated that the requested drug is indicated for the enrollee's condition. The Medicare approved cancer drug 
compendia do not contain a supportive citation for the use of the requested drug in the enrollee's clinical 
situation. No literature from Medicare approved cancer journals were submitted for review. Therefore, the 
reviewer found that the requested use of luspatercept-aamt 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 luspatercept-aamt have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does 
not have to pre-approve injection of luspatercept-aamt, 0.25 mg (J0896).
Appeal type: Practitioner Services
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for practitioner services provided on May 8, 2023, billed with 
procedure codes 99291 and 93010. 
 
You asked the Plan to pay for the practitioner services provided. You say that the claim is billed correctly and 
should be paid. The Plan denied your request. The Plan says two of the billed diagnosis codes cannot be 
reported together. 
 The Plan follows Medicare rules. The rules say that providers must comply with ICD-10-CM coding 
guidelines. One such guideline indicates that certain diagnosis codes have an Excludes1 note which lists other 
diagnosis codes with which they cannot be reported.  
 
In this case, we have confirmed that R06.02 has an Excludes1 note in relation to J96.01. This means that the 
two diagnosis codes cannot be reported together. Based on this information, we decided that the Medicare 
billing rules for the practitioner services provided have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the Plan does 
not have to pay for practitioner services provided on May 8, 2023, billed with procedure codes 99291 and 
93010.
Appeal type: Practitioner Services
Decision: Unfavorable

 
We decided that the Plan does not have to pay for procedure code 93970 billed for date of service April 22, 
2023.   
You asked the Plan to pay for procedure code 93970. You say that you disagree with the denial. The Plan 
denied your request. The Plan says the number of units billed exceeds the maximum allowed.  
 
The Plan must follow Medicare rules. Medicare rules say that submitted claims in which the unit of service 
exceeds the MUE value cannot be paid when the MAI value is 3, unless there is evidence justifying the excess 
units.  
 
In this case, the MUE for CPT code 93970 is 3. The MAI value for this code is 3. You billed 1 units of this 
code, exceeding the MUE. You did not provide all the required evidence showing that the excess units were 
actually provided, were correctly coded, and were medically necessary. Based on this information, we decided 
that Medicare rules for coverage of procedure code 93970 have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the 
Plan does not have to pay for procedure code 93970 billed for date of service April 22, 2023.
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 enrollee needs this level of care. The Plan denied 
your request. The Plan says the enrollees medical condition does not require IRF services, and care can be 
provided in another setting.  
 
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 the enrollee's medical, rehabilitation, and nursing needs does not 
require IRF care with an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitative care. The enrollee's rehabilitation needs 
can be safely provided in an alternate 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 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 inpatient behavioral health. 
 
You asked the Plan to pre-approve inpatient behavioral health. You say that the services are necessary. The 
Plan denied your request. The Plan says based on the documentation provided, coverage criteria has not been 
met. 
 The Plan must follow Medicare rules. The rules say that inpatient psychiatric services may be covered if the 
patient requires active treatment.  
 
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 inpatient behavioral health. Our 
reviewer says that the services are not medically necessary. Our physician reviewer found based upon review 
of the records provided the enrollee does not meet the criteria for October 24, 2023 forward as she was not 
shown to be a danger to herself or others. There were no delusions, auditory or visual hallucinations noted. She 
was cooperative/compliant with treatment while not showing any threats the safety. 
 
We looked at this physician's review, the file, and Medicare rules. Based on this information, we decided that 
Medicare rules for coverage of inpatient behavioral health have not been met. Therefore, we decided that the 
Plan does not have to pre-approve inpatient behavioral health.