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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 say that medically necessary services are those that are reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or 
treatment of an illness or injury. Medically necessary services include services to improve the functioning of a 
malformed body member. You can find this rule in the Social Security Act, Section 1862(a)(1)(A). 
 
The rules say that services that are not medically necessary are not covered. The rules also say that 
experimental and investigational devices are not covered. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Sections 411.15 and 
411.15(o). 
 
The rules say that the sacroiliac (SI) joint is a diarthrodial, synovial joint which is formed by the articular 
surfaces of the sacrum and iliac bones. The SI joints bear the weight of the trunk and as a result are subject to 
the development of strain and/or pain. 
 
Indications for Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Injections: 
 
Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections would be considered medically reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis 
and/or treatment of chronic low back pain that is considered to be secondary to suspected sacroiliac joint 
dysfunction. Diagnostic and therapeutic injections of the SI joint would not likely be performed unless 
conservative therapy and noninvasive treatments (i.e., rest, physical therapy, NSAIDs, etc.) have failed. 
 
Diagnostic blocks of a sacroiliac joint can be performed to determine whether it is the source of low back pain. 
Arthropathy (joint disease) is diagnosed through a double-comparative local anesthetic blockade of the joint by 
the intra-articular injection of a small volume of local anesthetics of different durations of actions. A positive 
response should demonstrate initial pain relief greater than or equal to (> /=) 75% - 100% and the ability to 
perform previously painful maneuvers. Steroids may be injected in addition to the local anesthetic. 
 
Therapeutic sacroiliac (SI) joint injections of an anesthetic and/or steroid to block the joint for immediate, and 
potentially long lasting, pain relief are considered medically reasonable and necessary if it is determined that 
the SI joint is the source of pain in the lower back. The local anesthetic used for the procedure should not be 
billed. 
 
SI joint arthrography and/or therapeutic injection of an anesthetic/steroid should only be reported when 
imaging confirmation of intra-articular needle positioning with applicable radiological and/or fluoroscopic 
procedures have been performed. 
 
Limitations for Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Injections: 
 
If previous diagnostic or therapeutic SI injections of an anesthetic and/or steroid to block the joint for 
immediate, and potentially long lasting, pain relief have not effectively relieved the pain, further injections 
would not be considered medically necessary. 
 
Radiofrequency ablation used for sacro-iliac joint pain is considered not medically necessary/investigational 
whether performed using traditional, cooled, or pulsed radiofrequency. 
 
You can find this information in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Pain Management (L33622). 
 
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.