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 Medicare will pay for an IRF admission when the services are reasonable and medically necessary. The patient must require an intensive and coordinated interdisciplinary approach to providing rehabilitation. The patient must need active and ongoing treatment by more than one therapy discipline. One of the therapies must be physical therapy or occupational therapy. The patient must need and be expected to actively participate in and to benefit from an intensive rehabilitation therapy program. This intensive rehabilitation therapy program generally consists of at least three hours of therapy per day at least five days per week. The patient does not need to be expected to achieve complete independence in self-care nor be expected to return to his or her prior level of functioning. The patient must need supervision by a rehabilitation physician. The physician must see the patient at least three days per week throughout the stay. You can find these rules in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 1, Sections 110.2 and 110.2.5 and at 42 CFR Section 412.622.

If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.
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 Medicare will consider Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) medically reasonable and necessary
when three or more of the following criteria are met:
- Advanced joint disease demonstrated by radiographic supported evidence or magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), e.g., fracture or deterioration, distortion of joint surfaces, subchondral cysts,
subchondral sclerosis, periarticular osteophytes, joint subluxation, joint space narrowing, avascular
necrosis;
- History of unsuccessful appropriate conservative therapy that is clearly documented in the preprocedure
medical record. Non-surgical medical management is usually implemented for 3 months or
more to assess effectiveness. Conservative treatment as clinically appropriate for the patient's current
episode of care typically includes one or more of the following: anti-inflammatory medications;
analgesics; flexibility and muscle strengthening exercises with supervised physical therapy.
- Pain with functional disability due to arthritis or trauma to the knee joint; activities of daily living
(ADLs) are diminished despite compliance with plan of care including activity restrictions as is
reasonable, assistive device use, weight reduction as appropriate or therapeutic injections into the
knee as appropriate;
- Distinct structural abnormalities such as:
o Distal femur fracture;
o Proximal tibia fracture;
o Malignancy of the distal femur, proximal tibia, knee joint or adjacent soft tissues;
o Avascular or other form of osteonecrosis of the knee;
o Rheumatologic changes precluding or inconsistent with rehabilitation
- Failed previous joint replacement/arthroplasty necessitating revision as indicated by any of the
following:
o Loosening, fracture, or mechanical failure of one or more components;
o Technical or functional failure of previous knee surgery, e.g. unicompartmental knee
replacement;
o Previous osteotomy or partial arthroplasty;
o Infection;
o Periprosthetic fracture or bone loss of distal femur, proximal tibia or patella; Implant or knee
malalignment;
o Bearing surface wear leading to symptomatic synovitis;
o Tibiofemoral or extensor mechanism instability; or
o Knee stiffness, arthrofibrosis or other destructive conditions that render the knee impaired to
the extent to preclude employment or functional activities.
You can find these rules in Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Lower Extremity Major Joint Replacement
(Knee and Hip) (L36007).
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 does not pay for hearing aids or examinations for the purpose of prescribing, fitting, or changing hearing aids. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 411.15(d).
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 health plan contract says that hearing coverage includes hearing and balance tests when you get them from a physician, audiologist or other qualified provider. You can find this information on page 61 of the plan's 2020 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 a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) is a hospital that has an average inpatient length of
stay of greater than 25 days. You can find this rule in the Social Security Act, Section 1886(d)(1)(B)(iv)(I).
The rules say that services in an LTACH must be medically necessary, reasonable, and appropriate for the
diagnosis and condition of the enrollee. The enrollee must show signs and/or symptoms severe enough to need
medical care. You can find this rule in the Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 6, Section 6.5.2.
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.
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 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 Section 423.578(b)(5)(ii).
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 is subject to step therapy. The medical records must show a trial and failure of medications covered under your formulary. This step is necessary before the use of Prolia can be approved. The alternatives are: lendronate, ibandronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid. 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 state that the following are indications of facet joint injections:
- Patient must have history of at least 3 months of moderate to severe pain with functional impairment and pain is inadequately responsive to conservative care such as NSAIDs, acetaminophen, physical therapy (as tolerated).
- Pain is predominantly axial and, with the possible exception of facet joint cysts, not associated with radiculopathy or neurogenic claudication.
- There is no non-facet pathology that could explain the source of the patient's pain, such as fracture, tumor, infection, or significant deformity.
- Clinical assessment implicates the facet joint as the putative source of pain.
You can find these rules in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Facet Joint Injections, Medial Branch Blocks, and Facet Joint Radiofrequency Neurotomy, L35936. This LCD is effective for services provided on or after December 5, 2019.
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 to qualify for home health services, the patient must be: 1. Confined to the home; 2. Under the care of a physician or allowed practitioner; 3. Receiving services under a plan of care established and reviewed by a physician; 4. Be in need of (a) skilled nursing care on an intermittent basis, (b) physical therapy, (c) speech therapy or (d) continuing occupational therapy. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 409.42. The rules say that eligibility for the home health benefit will be determined based on the certifying physician's records. If the enrollee was directly admitted to home health from an acute or post-acute care facility, the facility records may be used instead. The medical records for the enrollee must contain information that justifies the referral for home health services. The certifying physician must document that he or she or an allowed non-physician practitioner (NPP) had a face-to-face encounter with the enrollee within the required timeframe. The records must contain the actual clinical note for the face-to-face encounter visit. You can find these rules in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 7, Section 30.5.1, 30.5.1.1, and 30.5.1.2.
Medicare rules say that the provider must notify the enrollee in writing before it ends coverage of home health services. A Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage (NOMNC) must be issued no later than two days before the last covered day. If the span of time between services exceeds two days, the notice should be given no later than the next to last time services are furnished. The notice must include:
1. The date that coverage of service ends;
2. The date the enrollee becomes responsible to pay for the service; and
3. A description of the enrollee's right to a fast-track appeal and other appeal procedures. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.624(b).
A Health Plan is financially liable for continued services until two days after the enrollee receives valid notice. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.624(d).
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 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 SSA, Section 1862(a)(12) and 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 Plan contract lists periodontal scaling and root planing as a covered benefit when medically reasonable and necessary. You can find this information on pages 82 and 129 of the Plan's 2020 Evidence of Coverage. The contract also lists the following as criteria for coverage of periodontal treatment: a minimum of four (4) teeth affected in the quadrant, periodontal charting indicating abnormal pocket depths in multiple sites, and additionally at least one of the following must be present 1)radiographic evidence of root surface calculus and/or 2)radiographic evidence of noticeable loss of bone support. You can find this information on page 30 of the Plan's supplemental dental coverage handbook.
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 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 Section 423.578(b)(5)(ii).
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 pages 73 and 181 of the Plan's 2020 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 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).
Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Pressure Reducing Support Surfaces - Group 2 (L33642) - A group 2 support surface is covered if the beneficiary meets at least one of the following three Criteria (1, 2 or 3):
1. The beneficiary has multiple stage II pressure ulcers located on the trunk or pelvis (refer to the ICD-10 code list section in the LCD-related Policy Article for applicable diagnoses) which have failed to improve over the past month, during which time the beneficiary has been on a comprehensive ulcer treatment program including each of the following:
a. Use of an appropriate group1 support surface, and
b. Regular assessment by a nurse, practitioner, or other licensed healthcare practitioner, and
c. Appropriate turning and positioning, and
d. Appropriate wound care, and
e. Appropriate management of moisture/incontinence, and
f. Nutritional assessment and intervention consistent with the overall plan of care
2. The beneficiary has large or multiple stage III or IV pressure ulcer(s) on the trunk or pelvis (refer to the ICD-10 code list section in the LCD-related Policy Article for applicable diagnoses),
3. The beneficiary had a myocutaneous flap or skin graft for a pressure ulcer on the trunk or pelvis within the past 60 days (refer to the ICD-10 code list section in the LCD-related Policy Article for applicable diagnoses), and has been on a group 2 or 3 support surface immediately prior to discharge from a hospital or nursing facility within the past 30 days
If the beneficiary is on a group 2 surface, there should be a care plan established by the treating practitioner or home care nurse which includes the above elements. The support surface provided for the beneficiary should be one in which the beneficiary does not "bottom out" (see Appendices section).
When a group 2 surface is covered following a myocutaneous flap or skin graft, coverage generally is limited to 60 days from the date of surgery.
When the stated coverage criteria for a group 2 mattress or bed are not met, a claim will be denied as not reasonable and necessary.
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 may cover a drug or biological if it is safe and effective and otherwise reasonable and necessary. You can find this rule in the 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 Section 423.578(b)(5)(ii).
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 pages 91 and 215 of the Plan's 2020 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 a commode chair is covered only for enrollees who are confined to a bed or room. The term
"room confined" means that the patient's condition is such that leaving the room is medically contraindicated.
The accessibility of bathroom facilities generally would not be a factor in this determination. However,
confinement of a patient to a home in a case where there are no toilet facilities in the home may be equated to
room confinement. You can find this information in the Medical National Coverage Determinations Manual,
Chapter 1, Section 280.1.
The rules say that an extra wide/heavy duty commode chair (E0168) is covered for a beneficiary who weighs
300 pounds or more. If an E0168 commode is ordered and the beneficiary does not weigh more than 300
pounds, it will be denied as not reasonable and necessary.
A commode is covered when the beneficiary is physically incapable of utilizing regular toilet facilities. This
would occur in the following situations:
1. The beneficiary is confined to a single room, or
2. The beneficiary is confined to one level of the home environment and there is no toilet on that level, or
3. The beneficiary is confined to the home and there are no toilet facilities in the home.
You can find this information in Medicare's Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Commodes (L33736).
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.