Persius/hicric huggingface dataset:
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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 for the first diagnostic facet joint procedure:
a. For the first diagnostic facet joint procedure to be considered medically reasonable and necessary, the patient must meet the criteria outlined under indications for facet joint interventions.
b. A second confirmatory diagnostic facet joint procedure is considered medically reasonable and necessary in patients who meet ALL the following criteria:
i. The patient meets the criteria for the first diagnostic procedure; AND
ii. After the first diagnostic facet joint procedure, there must be a consistent positive response of at least 80% relief of primary (index) pain (with the duration of relief being consistent with the agent used)
One to two levels, either unilateral or bilateral, are allowed per session per spine region. The need for a three or four-level procedure bilaterally may be considered under unique circumstances and with sufficient documentation of medical necessity on appeal. A session is a time period, which includes all procedures (i.e., medial branch block (MBB), intraarticular injections (IA), facet cyst ruptures, and RFA ablations that are performed during the same day. You can find this rule in the Local Coverage Determination for Facet Joint Interventions for Pain Management, L35936 (eff 04/25/21).
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
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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 a health plan must disclose to its enrollees in clear, accurate terms all cost-sharing information (such as copayments, deductibles and coinsurance). You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.111(a) and (b). The rules say that a copayment is a fixed amount charged to an enrollee on a per-service basis. The rules say that coinsurance is a fixed percentage of the total amount paid for a health care service that can be charged to an enrollee on a per-service basis. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.2.
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. The Plan contract says that enrollees must pay a $15 copayment for lab services at an outpatient hospital facility. You can find this information on pages 74 and 75 of the Plan's 2021 Evidence of Coverage (EOC).
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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.

Medicare rules state that the coverage indications for lumbar epidural injections are:

1. Pain associated with
- Herpes Zoster and/or
- Suspected radicular pain, based on radiation of pain along the dermatome (sensory distribution) of a nerve and/or
- Neurogenic claudication and/or
- Low back pain, NPRS 3/10 or greater (moderate to severe pain) associated with significant impairment of activities of daily living (ADLs) and one of the following:
a. substantial imaging abnormalities such as a central disc herniation,
b. severe degenerative disc disease or central spinal stenosis.
2. Failure of four weeks (counting from onset of pain) of non-surgical, non-injection care, which includes appropriate oral medication(s) and physical therapy to the extent tolerated. Exceptions to the 4-week wait may include:
- pain from Herpes Zoster
- at least moderate pain with significant functional loss at work or home.
- severe pain unresponsive to outpatient medical management.
- inability to tolerate non-surgical, non-injection care due to co-existing medical condition(s)
- prior successful injections for same specific condition with relief of at least 3 months' duration.

The coverage limitations are:

1. For a patient with low back pain only, a simple disc bulge or annular tear/fissure is insufficient to justify performance of an epidural.
2. Patient must not have major risk factors for spinal cancer (e.g., LBP with fever) or, if cancer is present, but the pain is clearly unrelated, an epidural may be indicated if one of the "Indications" previously listed is present.
3. A co-existing medical or other condition that precludes the safe performance of the procedure precludes coverage of the procedure, e.g., new onset of LBP with fever, risk factors for, or signs of, cauda equina syndrome, rapidly progressing (or other) neurological deficits.
4. Numbness and/or weakness without paresthesia/dysesthesia or pain precludes coverage.
5. There is no role for "series of three"? epidurals. Response to each epidural should be determined prior to determining the value of a repeat epidural and the specific methods used for subsequent epidurals.

You can find these rules in Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Lumbar Epidural Injections (L34980).

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.
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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 a Medicare plan may restrict members to a network of providers as long as medically necessary covered care is accessible and available through this network. The rules say that the Plan must arrange for specialty care outside of the Plan provider network when network providers are unavailable or inadequate to meet a member's medical needs. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.112(a)(3).
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. The Plan contract says that your primary care physician (PCP) coordinates your covered services you get as a plan member. For example, in order to see a network specialist, you need to get your PCP's approval first. You can find this information on page 40 of the Plan's 2021 Evidence of Coverage.
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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 Medicare will not pay for dental services. Dental services are items and services involving the care, treatment, filling, removal or replacement of teeth or structures directly supporting the teeth. Medicare defines "structures directly supporting the teeth" as the periodontium, which includes the gingivae, dentogingival junction, periodontal membrane, cementum of the teeth, and alveolar process. You can find this rule in the Social Security Act, Section 1862(a)(12) and in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 150.
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. The contract says that the Plan covers certain dental services as a supplemental (extra) benefit. The Plan contract says that routine dental care, such as fillings or dentures, are not covered under any condition. You can find this information on page 127 of the Plan's 2021 Evidence of Coverage (EOC).
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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 Medicare will not pay for dental services. Dental services are items and services involving the care, treatment, filling, removal or replacement of teeth or structures directly supporting the teeth. Medicare defines "structures directly supporting the teeth" as the periodontium, which includes the gingivae, dentogingival junction, periodontal membrane, cementum of the teeth, and alveolar process. You can find this rule in the Social Security Act, Section 1862(a)(12) and in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 150.
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. The contract says that the Plan covers certain dental services as a supplemental (extra) benefit. The contract says that you pay 50% for major services which include the rebase or reline of dentures. The treatment planning is not listed as a covered benefit. You can find this information on pages 120 to 123 of the Plan's 2021 Evidence of Coverage.
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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 Medicare may cover a drug or biological if it is safe and effective and otherwise reasonable and necessary. You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 50.4.1. Medicare rules also allow the plan to use step therapy. This is the process of beginning drug therapy for a medical condition with "preferred" (or more cost-effective) on-formulary drug alternative(s) and progressing to other drug therapies only as necessary. A plan must grant an exception to its step therapy rules if it determines that the requested drug is medically necessary, consistent with the prescriber's statement. The statement must show that the step therapy drugs: have been ineffective in treating the enrollee; or are likely to be ineffective or adversely affect the drug's effectiveness or patient compliance; or are likely to cause an adverse reaction or other harm to the enrollee. Medicare Advantage plans should ensure that new step therapy requirements do not disrupt ongoing Part B drug therapies for enrollees. Step therapy may only be applied to new prescriptions or administrations of Part B drugs for enrollees that are not actively receiving the affected medication. You can find this information at 42 CFR Sections 422.2 and 422.136.
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. The contract says that the Plan has step therapy requirements for certain Medicare Part B covered drugs/biologicals. Enrollees may be required to try a preferred drug before the Plan will approve the requested medication. You can find this information on page 70 of the Plan's 2021 Evidence of Coverage.
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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 Facet Joint Interventions are considered medically reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain in patients who meet ALL the following criteria: Moderate to severe chronic neck or low back pain, predominantly axial, that causes functional deficit measured on pain or disability scale Pain present for minimum of 3 months with documented failure to respond to noninvasive conservative management (as tolerated) Absence of untreated radiculopathy or neurogenic claudication (except for radiculopathy caused by facet joint synovial cyst) There is no non-facet pathology per clinical assessment or radiology studies that could explain the source of the patient's pain, including but not limited to fracture, tumor, infection, or significant deformity. You can find these rules in Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Facet Joint Interventions for Pain Management (L35936).
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
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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 Medicare pays only for ambulance transport. Ambulance vehicles must be designed and equipped to meet certain requirements. The vehicle must have emergency warning lights, sirens, communications equipment, a stretcher, linens, emergency medical supplies, oxygen equipment and other life-saving equipment. The vehicle also must be staffed with two people, one of whom is certified as an emergency medical technician. Medicare will not pay for transport by vehicles that do not meet these requirements. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 410.41(a). The rules say that plans may offer a supplemental benefit to provide transport not covered by original Medicare. The transport offered must be used only for the enrollee's health care needs, such as transport to the doctor's office. The transport must be arranged or directly provided by the health plan. The transport may not be used for other than health-related purposes. You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-16, Medicare Managed Care Manual, Chapter 4, Section 30.3.
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. The contract says that the Plan covers routine, non-ambulance transportation as a supplemental (extra) benefit. This benefit covers 24 one-way trips per year for medical appointments in any medical facility and picking up prescriptions in pharmacies. You can find this information on page 101 of the Plan's 2021 Evidence of Coverage (EOC).
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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 Medicare may cover a drug or biological if it is safe and effective and otherwise reasonable and necessary. You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 50.4.1. Medicare rules also allow the plan to use step therapy. This is the process of beginning drug therapy for a medical condition with "preferred" (or more cost-effective) on-formulary drug alternative(s) and progressing to other drug therapies only as necessary. A plan must grant an exception to its step therapy rules if it determines that the requested drug is medically necessary, consistent with the prescriber's statement. The statement must show that the step therapy drugs: have been ineffective in treating the enrollee; or are likely to be ineffective or adversely affect the drug's effectiveness or patient compliance; or are likely to cause an adverse reaction or other harm to the enrollee. Medicare Advantage plans should ensure that new step therapy requirements do not disrupt ongoing Part B drug therapies for enrollees. Step therapy may only be applied to new prescriptions or administrations of Part B drugs for enrollees that are not actively receiving the affected medication. You can find this information at 42 CFR Sections 422.2 and 422.136.
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. The contract says that the Plan has step therapy requirements for certain Medicare Part B covered drugs/biologicals. Enrollees may be required to try a preferred drug before the Plan will approve the requested medication. The health plan contract says that Prolia/Denosumab is subject to step therapy. There must be a trial and failure of an oral/IV bisphonate. You can find this rule in the plan's step therapy policy.
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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 Medicare will not pay for dental services. Dental services are items and services involving
the care, treatment, filling, removal or replacement of teeth or structures directly supporting the teeth. Medicare
defines "structures directly supporting the teeth" as the periodontium, which includes the gingivae,
dentogingival junction, periodontal membrane, cementum of the teeth, and alveolar process. You can find this
rule in the Social Security Act, Section 1862(a)(12) and in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 150.
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. The contract
says that the Plan covers certain dental services as a supplemental (extra) benefit. The contract lists the specific
dental services that are covered. Core build up is not listed and therefore is not a covered service. You can find
this information on pages 90 to 110 of the Plan's 2021 Evidence of Coverage (EOC).
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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 a health plan must disclose to its enrollees in clear, accurate terms all cost-sharing information (such as copayments, deductibles and coinsurance). You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.111(a) and (b). The rules say that a copayment is a fixed amount charged to an enrollee on a per-service basis. The rules say that coinsurance is a fixed percentage of the total amount paid for a health care service that can be charged to an enrollee on a per-service basis. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.2.
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. The Plan contract says that there are no cost-sharing charges for colorectal cancer screenings. You can find this information in Chapter 4 on pages 56 - 57 of the Plan's 2021 Evidence of Coverage (EOC). The Plan contract also says that enrollees must pay a $350 copayment for outpatient surgery, including services provided at hospital outpatient facilities and ambulatory surgical centers. You can find this information in Chapter 4 on page 86 of the Plan's 2021 Evidence of Coverage (EOC).
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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 for parenteral nutrition to be considered reasonable and necessary, the treating practitioner must document that enteral nutrition has been considered and ruled out, tried and been found ineffective, or that EN exacerbates gastrointestinal tract dysfunction. The beneficiary must have (a) a condition involving the small intestine and/or its exocrine glands which significantly impairs the absorption of nutrients or (b) disease of the stomach and/or intestine which is a motility disorder and impairs the ability of nutrients to be transported through and absorbed by the gastrointestinal (GI) system. The beneficiary must have a permanent impairment. Please refer to the LCD-related Policy Article for further guidance regarding the test of permanence. The treating practitioner is required to evaluate the beneficiary within 30 days prior to initiation of parenteral nutrition. If the treating practitioner does not see the beneficiary within this timeframe, they must document the reason why and describe what other monitoring methods were used to evaluate the beneficiary's parenteral nutrition needs. There must be documentation in the medical record supporting the clinical diagnosis. You can find this in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Parenteral Nutrition (L38953).
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.
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

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 no payment may be made for the implantation of dorsal column or depth brain stimulators or services and supplies related to such implantation, unless all of the conditions listed below have been met:

&#61623; The implantation of the stimulator is used only as a late resort (if not a last resort) for patients with chronic intractable pain;
&#61623; With respect to item a, other treatment modalities (pharmacological, surgical, physical, or psychological therapies) have been tried and did not prove satisfactory, or are judged to be unsuitable or contraindicated for the given patient;
&#61623; Patients have undergone careful screening, evaluation and diagnosis by a multidisciplinary team prior to implantation. (Such screening must include psychological, as well as physical evaluation);
&#61623; All the facilities, equipment, and professional and support personnel required for the proper diagnosis, treatment training, and follow up of the patient (including that required to satisfy item c) must be available; and
&#61623; Demonstration of pain relief with a temporarily implanted electrode precedes permanent implantation.

You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Internet-Only Manual, Publication 100-03, Medicare National Coverage Determinations (NCD) Manual, Section 160.7.

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.