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The rules say that plans must pay for a medical service or item if regular Medicare would pay for it in this case. You can find this rule at 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 422.101.

The rules state that a knee flexion contracture is a condition in which there is shortening of the muscles and/or tendons with the resulting inability to bring the knee to 0 degrees extension or greater (i.e., hyperextension) by passive range of motion. (0 degrees knee extension is when the femur and tibia are in alignment in a horizontal plane). A knee extension contracture is a condition in which there is shortening of the muscles and/or tendons with the resulting inability to bring the knee to 80 degrees flexion or greater by passive range of motion. A contracture is distinguished from the temporary loss of range of motion of a joint following injury, surgery, casting, or other immobilization.

A knee immobilizer without joints (L1830), or a knee orthosis with adjustable knee joints (L1832, L1833), or a knee orthosis, with an adjustable flexion and extension joint that provides both medial-lateral and rotation control (L1843, L1845, L1851, L1852), are covered if the beneficiary has had recent injury to or a surgical procedure on the knee(s). Refer to the diagnoses listed in the Groups 2 or 4 ICD-10 Codes in the LCD-related Policy Article. 

Knee orthoses L1832, L1833, L1843, L1845, L1851 and L1852 are also covered for a beneficiary who is ambulatory and has knee instability due to a condition specified in the Group 4 ICD-10 Codes in the LCD-related Policy Article.

For codes L1832, L1833, L1843, L1845, L1850, L1851 and L1852, knee instability must be documented by examination of the beneficiary and objective description of joint laxity (e.g., varus/valgus instability, anterior/posterior Drawer test). 

Claims for L1832, L1833, L1843, L1845, L1850, L1851 or L1852 will be denied as not reasonable and necessary when the beneficiary does not meet the above criteria for coverage. For example, they will be denied if only pain or a subjective description of joint instability is documented. You can find this rule at Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Knee Orthoses (L33318).

The rules also say that L coded additions to AFOs and KAFOs (L2180, L2182, L2184, L2186, L2188, L2190, L2192, L2200, L2210, L2220, L2230, L2232, L2240, L2250, L2260, L2265, L2270, L2275, L2280, L2300, L2310, L2320, L2330, L2335, L2340, L2350, L2360, L2370, L2375, L2380, L2385, L2387, L2390, L2395, L2397, L2405, L2415, L2425, L2430, L2492, L2500, L2510, L2520, L2525, L2526, L2530, L2540, L2550, L2750, L2755, L2760, L2768, L2780, L2785, L2795, L2800, L2810, L2820, L2830) will be denied as not reasonable and necessary if either the base orthosis is not reasonable and necessary or the specific addition is not reasonable and necessary. 

You can find this rule at Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Ankle-Foot/Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis (L33686).

If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.

The Plan contract says that the Plan covers items and services in accordance with Medicare rules.