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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 Facet Joint Interventions generally consist of four types of procedures: Intraarticular (IA) 
Facet Joint Injections, Medial Branch Blocks (MBB), Radiofrequency Ablations (RFA) and Facet cyst 
rupture/aspiration. 
 
Facet Joint Interventions are considered medically reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of 
chronic pain in patients who meet ALL of the following criteria: 
 
        Moderate to severe chronic neck or low back pain, predominantly axial, that causes functional deficit 
measured on pain or disability scale11; AND* 
        Pain that has been present for a minimum of 3 months with documented failure to respond to noninvasive 
conservative care management (as tolerated)4,12; AND 
        Absence of untreated radiculopathy or neurogenic claudication (except for radiculopathy caused by facet 
joint synovial cyst)4,7; AND 
        There is no non-facet pathology per clinical assessment or radiology studies that could explain the source 
of the patients pain, including but not limited to fracture, tumor, infection, or significant deformity.11 
 
    *Pain assessment must be performed and documented at baseline, after each diagnostic procedure using the 
same pain scale for each assessment. A disability scale must also be obtained at baseline to be used for 
functional assessment (if patient qualifies for treatment). 
 
B. Diagnostic Facet Joint Injection Procedures (IA or MBB): 
 
The primary indication of a diagnostic facet joint procedure is to diagnose whether the patient has facet 
syndrome.1,4,7,12,16 Intraarticular (IA) facet block(s) are considered medically reasonable and necessary as a 
diagnostic test only if MBB cannot be performed due to specific documented anatomic restrictions or there is 
an indication to proceed with therapeutic intraarticular injections. These restrictions must be clearly 
documented in the medical record and made available upon request.  
Diagnostic procedures should be performed with the intent that if successful, a RFA procedure would be 
considered the primary treatment goal at the diagnosed level(s).11 
 
A second diagnostic facet procedure is considered medically reasonable and necessary to confirm validity of 
the initial diagnostic facet procedure when administered at the same level. The second diagnostic procedure 
may only be performed a minimum of 2 weeks after the initial diagnostic procedure.7 
 
        An initial diagnostic facet joint procedure will be considered medically reasonable and necessary when the 
patient meets the criteria outlined under the indications for facet joint interventions. 
        A second confirmatory diagnostic facet joint procedure is considered medically reasonable and necessary 
in patients who meet BOTH of the following criteria: 
            The patient meets the criteria for the first diagnostic procedure; AND 
            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).11 
 
Frequency limitation: For each covered spinal region no more than four (4) diagnostic joint sessions will be 
considered medically reasonable and necessary per rolling 12 months, in recognition that the pain generator 
cannot always be identified with the initial and confirmatory diagnostic procedure. 
 
C. Therapeutic Facet Joint Injection Procedures (IA): 
 
Therapeutic facet joint procedures are considered medically reasonable and necessary for patients who meet 
ALL of the following criteria: 
 
        The patient has had two (2) medically reasonable and necessary diagnostic facet joint procedures with 
each one providing a consistent minimum of 80% relief of primary (index) pain (with the duration of relief 
being consistent with the agent used); AND 
        Subsequent therapeutic facet joint procedures at the same anatomic site result in at least consistent 50% 
pain relief for at least three (3) months from the prior therapeutic procedure or at least 50% consistent 
improvement in the ability to perform previously painful movements and ADLs as compared to baseline 
measurement using the same scale11; AND 
        Documentation of why the patient is not a candidate for radiofrequency ablation (such as established 
spinal pseudarthrosis, implanted electrical device) is in the medical record.5,42,43,44 
 
Frequency limitation: For each covered spinal region no more than four (4) therapeutic facet joint injection 
(IA) sessions will be reimbursed per rolling 12 months. 
 
You can find this information in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD)-Facet Joint Interventions for Pain 
Management(L34892 . 
 
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.