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 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 the following criteria:  
1. Moderate to severe chronic neck or low back pain, predominantly axial, that causes functional deficit 
measured on pain or disability scale* 
2. Pain present for minimum of 3 months with documented failure to respond to noninvasive conservative 
management (as tolerated) 
3. Absence of untreated radiculopathy or neurogenic claudication (except for radiculopathy caused by 
facet joint synovial cyst) 
4. 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.  
*
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). 
A. Diagnostic Facet Joint Procedures (IA or MBB): 
The primary indication of a diagnostic facet joint procedure is to diagnose whether the patient has facet 
syndrome. Intraarticular (IA) facet block(s) are considered reasonable and necessary as a diagnostic test only if 
medial branch blocks (MMB) 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, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) 
procedure would be considered the primary treatment goal at the diagnosed level(s). 
A second diagnostic facet procedure is considered medically 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. Clinical circumstances that necessitate 
an exception to the two-week duration may be considered on an individual basis and must be clearly 
documented in the medical record. 
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: 
1.  
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) 
Frequency limitation: For each covered spinal region no more than four (4) diagnostic joint sessions will be 
reimbursed per rolling 12 months, in recognition that the pain generator cannot always be identified with the 
initial and confirmatory diagnostic procedure. 
 
Therapeutic Facet Joint Procedures (IA): 
Therapeutic facet joint procedures are considered medically reasonable and necessary for patients who 
meet ALL the following criteria: 
a. 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 
b. Subsequent therapeutic facet joint procedures at the same anatomic site results 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 scale; AND 
c. Documentation of why the patient is not a candidate for radiofrequency ablation (such as established 
spinal pseudarthrosis, implanted electrical device). 
Frequency Limitations: For each covered spinal region no more than four (4) therapeutic facet joint (IA) 
sessions will be reimbursed per rolling 12 months. 
 
Facet Joint Denervation: 
The thermal radiofrequency destruction of cervical, thoracic, or lumbar paravertebral facet joint (medial 
branch) nerves are considered medically reasonable and necessary for patients who meet ALL the following 
criteria: 
1.  
a. Initial thermal RFA: i. After the patient has had at least two (2) medically reasonable and necessary diagnostic 
MBBs, with each one providing a consistent minimum of 80% sustained relief of 
primary (index) pain (with the duration of relief being consistent with the agent 
used) AND 
ii. Repeat thermal facet joint RFA at the same anatomic site is considered medically 
reasonable and necessary provided the patient had a minimum of consistent 50% 
improvement in pain for at least six (6) months or at least 50% consistent improvement 
in the ability to perform previously painful movements and ADLs as compared to 
baseline measurement using the same scale; 
Frequency Limitation: For each covered spinal region no more than two (2) radiofrequency sessions will be 
reimbursed per rolling 12 months. You can find this rule at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Local 
Coverage Determination (LCD) L38803, Facet Joint Interventions for Pain Management. 
 
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.