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 lifesaving
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 up to 36 one-way trips per year. You can find this information on pages 4-84 to 4-85 of the Plan's 2022
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 enrollees must pay a $225 copayment for ambulatory surgical services. You can find this
information on page 88 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. You
can find this information on page 70 of the Plan's 2022 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 a repeat epidural steroid injection (ESI) when the first injection directly and significantly
provided improvement of the condition being treated may be considered medically reasonable and necessary
when the medical record documents at least 50% of sustained improvement in pain relief and/or improvement
in function measured from baseline using SAME scale for at least three months. If a patient fails to respond
well to the initial ESI, a repeat ESI after 14 days can be performed, using a different approach, level and/or
medication if appropriate, with the rationale and medical necessity for the second ESI documented in the
medical record. In addition, Patients should be part of an active rehabilitation program, home exercise
program or functional restoration program. You can find this rule in Local Coverage Determination (LCD):
Epidural Steroid Injections for Pain Management (L38994).
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 $0 copayment for diagnostic tests and procedures. You can find this information on pages 76-77 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 providers/suppliers must report services correctly. Procedures should be reported with the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code that describes the services performed. You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare National Correct Coding Initiative Policy Manual for Medicare Services, Chapter I(A).  The rules say that modifier -59 is used to indicate a distinct procedural service. This may represent a different session or patient encounter, different procedure or surgery, different site, or organ system, separate incision/excision, or separate injury. You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, National Correct Coding Initiative Policy Manual, Chapter 1, Section E(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 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 $50 copayment for lab services at an outpatient hospital. You can find
this information on page 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.

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 percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is covered when used under the following conditions:

Treatment of Atherosclerotic Obstructive Lesions
-In the lower extremities, i.e., the iliac, femoral, and popliteal arteries, or in the upper extremities, i.e., the innominate, subclavian, axillary, and brachial arteries. The upper extremities do not include head or neck vessels.
-Of a single coronary artery for patients for whom the likely alternative treatment is coronary bypass surgery and who exhibit the following characteristics:
 Angina refractory to optimal medical management;
 Objective evidence of myocardial ischemia; and
 Lesions amenable to angioplasty.
-Of the renal arteries for patients in whom there is an inadequate response to a thorough medical management of symptoms and for whom surgery is the likely alternative. PTA for this group of patients is an alternative to surgery, not simply an addition to medical management.
-Of arteriovenous dialysis fistulas and grafts when performed through either a venous or arterial approach

You can find this rule in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-03, Medicare National Coverage Determinations for Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA), 20.7.

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.
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
dental implants and all associated services are excluded from coverage. You can find this information on page
99 of the Plan's 2022 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 Original Medicare pays for the routine costs of qualifying clinical trials. Medicare also pays
for reasonable and necessary items and services used to diagnose and treat complications arising from
participation in all clinical trials. The rules also say that Medicare plans must cover these services even if they
are not available through in-network providers. Medicare plans may require reporting when enrollees
participate in clinical trials but cannot require prior authorization or approval. You can find these rules in the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-03, Medicare National
Coverage Determinations Manual, Chapter 1, Section 310.1.
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 also says that a clinical research study or clinical trial is a way that doctors and scientists test new
types of medical care. They test new medical care procedures or drugs by asking for volunteers to help with the
study. This kind of study is one of the final stages of a research process that helps doctors and scientists see if a
new approach works and if it is safe.
An enrollee who is in a clinical research study may stay enrolled in the Plan and continue to get the care that is
not related to the study through the Plan. Enrollees must tell the plan before they start participating in a clinical
research study.
If an enrollee participates in a Medicare-approved study, Original Medicare pays most of the costs for the
covered services received as part of the study. After Medicare has paid its share of the cost for these services,
the Plan will also pay for part of the costs. The Plan will pay the difference between the cost-sharing in
Original Medicare and the cost-sharing as a member of the Plan. This means the enrollee will pay the same
amount for the services received as part of the study as he or she would if these services were received from the
Plan. You can find this information on pages on pages 3-9 to 3-10 of the Plan's 2022 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 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, Publication 100-16, 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 13 of the 2021 Evidence
of Coverage.
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

How we made our decision
1. We read all the papers in the file.
2. We checked Medicare rules.
3. We checked the contract with the Plan.
4. If required, we sent the file to a Maximus Federal Services physician reviewer.
To make our decision we read all the papers in the file very carefully. We used the Medicare rules. We looked
to see if the Plan correctly followed Medicare rules and regulations.
Medicare rules say that the Plan must give the member a subscriber agreement. It is a contract between the Plan
and the member. It is usually called the Evidence of Coverage (EOC) or Member Agreement. We read this
contract carefully to see what the Plan is supposed to cover.
Medicare rules
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 patients 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, Publication 100-02, 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, Publication 100-02, 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.
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 providers/suppliers must report services correctly. Procedures should be reported with the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code that describes the services performed. You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare National Correct Coding Initiative Policy Manual for Medicare Services, Chapter I(A). 

The rules say Medicare Physician's Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB) Status Code of B = Payment for covered services is always bundled into payment for other services not specified. There are no RVUs and no payment amounts for these services. No separate payment is made for them under the fee schedule. If the item or service is covered as incident to a physician service and is provided on the same day as a physician service, payment for it is bundled into the payment for the physician service to which it is incident. You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual Chapter 23, Section 30.2.2.

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.
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, Publication 100-16, 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 you should receive your care from a network provider. Our plan does offer a Point of Service (POS) option for certain services. Most services obtained from out-of-network providers require prior authorization and are subject to a $500 deductible and fifty percent (50%) coinsurance. 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 Plan
contract includes a list of covered supplemental dental services. The contract specifically says that any
procedure not listed is not covered. Pin retention (D2951) is not included on this list and is not a covered
supplemental benefit. You can find this information on pages 74 to 75 of the Plan's 2021 Evidence of Coverage
(EOC).