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 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, 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. The health 
plan contract says that 24 one-way routine transportation trips are covered per calendar year. You can find this 
information on page 104 of the 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 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, with limited exceptions, members of the Plan must use network providers to get medical care 
and services. The only exceptions are emergencies, urgently needed care when the network is not available 
(generally, when the enrollee is out of the area), out-of-area dialysis services, and cases in which the Plan 
authorizes the use of out-of-network providers. You can find this information on page 12 of the 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 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). 
 
Indications: 
1. 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). 
2. Pain is predominantly axial and, with the possible exception of facet joint cysts, not associated with 
radiculopathy or neurogenic claudication. 
3. There is no non-facet pathology that could explain the source of the patient?s pain, such as fracture, tumor, 
infection, or significant deformity. 
4. Clinical assessment implicates the facet joint as the putative source of pain. 
You can find this information in Local Coverage Determination (LCD): FACET JOINT INJECTIONs, Medial 
Branch Blocks, and Facet Joint Radiofrequency Neurotomy (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 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 $40 for each covered visit or consultation in an outpatient location with a 
specialist. You can find this information on page 99 of the Plan's 2020 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 the following indications are covered for implanted permanent single chamber or dual 
chamber cardiac pacemakers: 

    1. Documented non-reversible symptomatic bradycardia due to sinus node dysfunction, and 
    2. Documented non-reversible symptomatic bradycardia due to second degree and/or third degree 
atrioventricular block. 
 
The following indications are non-covered for implanted permanent single chamber or dual chamber cardiac 
pacemakers: 
 
    1. Reversible causes of bradycardia such as electrolyte abnormalities, medications or drugs, and 
hypothermia, 
    2. Asymptomatic first degree atrioventricular block, 
    3. Asymptomatic sinus bradycardia, 
    4. Asymptomatic sino-atrial block or asymptomatic sinus arrest, 
    5. Ineffective atrial contractions (e.g., chronic atrial fibrillation or flutter, or giant left atrium) without 
symptomatic bradycardia, 
    6. Asymptomatic second degree atrioventricular block of Mobitz Type I unless the QRS complexes are 
prolonged or electrophysiological studies have demonstrated that the block is at or beyond the level of the His 
Bundle (a component of the electrical conduction system of the heart), 
    7. Syncope of undetermined cause, 
    8. Bradycardia during sleep, 
    9. Right bundle branch block with left axis deviation (and other forms of fascicular or bundle branch block) 
without syncope or other symptoms of intermittent atrioventricular block, 
    10. Asymptomatic bradycardia in post-myocardial infarction patients about to initiate long-term beta-blocker 
drug therapy, 
    11. Frequent or persistent supraventricular tachycardias, except where the pacemaker is specifically for the 
control of tachycardia, and 
    12. A clinical condition in which pacing takes place only intermittently and briefly, and which is not 
associated with a reasonable likelihood that pacing needs will become prolonged. 
 
You can find this in the National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Cardiac Pacemakers: Single Chamber and 
Dual Chamber Permanent Cardiac Pacemakers (20.8.3). 
 
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.
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 according to the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, the specialty of plastic surgery includes reconstructive and cosmetic procedures: 1. Reconstructive surgery is performed on abnormal structures of the body, caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors, involutional defects, or disease. It is generally performed to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance. 2. Cosmetic surgery is performed to reshape normal structures of the body in order to improve the patient's appearance and self-esteem. Per the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual cosmetic surgery or expenses incurred in connection with such surgery, for the sole purpose of improving one's appearance, is not covered. Punch graft hair transplant may be considered reconstructive when it is performed for eyebrow(s) replacement following a burn injury or tumor removal. You can find this rule in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery (L34698).
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, 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. This benefit 
covers unlimited one-way trips per calendar year (limited to ground transportation). Each one-way trip must 
not exceed 50 miles of driving distance. A trip is one-way transportation; a round trip is two trips. You can find 
this information on pages 4-52 to 4-53 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 when billing multiple units of a Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System 
(HCPCS)/Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code, providers must enter the actual number of units 
provided on the claim form. You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet 
Only Manual, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 26, Section 10.4. 
 
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 $10 for Medicare-covered laboratory tests. You can find this information 
on page 92 of the Plan's 2020 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 MRIs are covered when medically necessary and reasonable for the diagnosis or treatment of 
the specific patient involved. You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet 
Only Manual, Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual, Section 220.2(B). 
 
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 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 rule 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.
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 for care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) when all of the following four 
factors are met: 
 
1. The patient requires skilled nursing or skilled rehabilitation services; 
2. The patient requires these services on a daily basis; 
3. As a practical matter, the daily skilled services can be provided only on an inpatient basis in a SNF; and 
4. The services are reasonable and necessary for the treatment of the patient's illness or injury or the services 
must be needed to establish a safe and effective maintenance program or to prevent the patient's condition from 
getting worse.  
 
You can find these rules at 42 CFR Section 409.31 and in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 
Internet Only Manual, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 8, Section 30.   
 
The rules say that custodial care is not covered. Custodial care is personal care for a person who does not need 
ongoing care from trained medical or paramedical staff. Custodial care serves to help with the activities of 
daily living. This means the care includes help in walking, getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, feeding, 
and using the toilet. Fixing meals and taking charge of medicine that usually can be self-administered are also 
custodial care services. You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only 
Manual, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 16, Section 110. 
 
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 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 $60 per day for an ultrasound. You can find this information on page 85 
of the Plan's 2020 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, 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 Supartz FX is subject to step therapy. The member must meet the following 
criteria: has tried and cannot use Monovisc and Orthovisc. 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 plans may choose the networks of providers available to enrollees and may require enrollees 
to obtain authorization before receiving services. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.112(a) and in 
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Medicare Managed Care Manual, 
Chapter 1, Section 20.2. 
 
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, with limited exceptions, members of the Plan must use network providers to get medical care 
and services. The only exceptions are emergencies, urgently needed care when the network is not available 
(generally, when the enrollee is out of the area), out-of-area dialysis services, and cases in which the Plan 
authorizes the use of out-of-network providers. You can find this information on page 42 of the Plan's 2020 
Evidence of Coverage.