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 percutaneous vertebroplasty and percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA or Kyphoplasty) procedures will be considered medically reasonable and necessary for painful debilitating, osteoporotic vertebral collapse/compression fractures, defined as those that have not responded to non-surgical medical management (e.g. narcotic and/or non- narcotic medication, physical therapy modalities) with and without methods of immobility (e.g. rest, bracing. These procedures will be considered reasonable and necessary when ALL of the following criteria are met:  1. Acute (less than six weeks) or subacute (six to twelve weeks) osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (T1-L5), based on symptom onset, and documented by advanced imaging demonstrating bone marrow edema on MRI or bone-scan/SPECT/CT uptake, and 2. The beneficiary is symptomatic and is hospitalized with severe pain (Numeric Rating Scale [NRS] or Visual Analog Scale [VAS] pain score 8 or more, or is non-hospitalized with moderate to severe pain (NRS or VAS 5 or more), despite optimal non-surgical management, with one of the following:  a. Worsening pain b. Stable to improved pain, when two or more of the following are present:  -Progression of vertebral body height loss -More than 25% of vertebral body height reduction -Kyphotic deformity -Severe impact of VCF on daily functioning (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire [RDQ] more than 17)  You can find this rule in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) - Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation (PVA) for Vertebral Compression Fracture (VCF) (L35130) - Effective July 11, 2021.  The rules say that the exclusion criteria for percutaneous vertebroplasty is as follows:  a. Absolute contraindication   1. Current back pain is not primarily due to the identified acute or subacute VCF(s). 2. Osteomyelitis, discitis or active systemic infection 3. Pregnancy 4. Active surgical site infection  b.  Relative contraindication   1. Allergy to bone cement or opacification agents 2. Coagulopathy 3. Spinal instability 4. Myelopathy from the fracture 5. Neurologic deficit 6. Neural impingement 7. Fracture retropulsion/canal compromise 8. Greater than three vertebral fractures per procedure  You can find this rule in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) - Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation (PVA) for Vertebral Compression Fracture (VCF) (L35130) - Effective July 11, 2021.  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 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 in Chapter 4 on page 71 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 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, 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 30 one-way trips every calendar year to plan-approved locations for non-emergency transportation. You can find this information on page 90 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 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, 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 24 one-way trips per calendar year. You can find this information on pages 4-69 to 4-70 of the Plan's 2021 Evidence of Coverage (EOC).
Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

 Please note, the Local Coverage Determination (LCD L35148) the Plan used in their original decision to deny the services is no longer binding in this case. The LCD is no longer in effect.   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 epidural steroid injection (ESI) will be considered medically reasonable and necessary when the following three (3) requirements met: &#61485; History, physical examination, and concordant radiological image-based diagnostic testing and supporting one of the following: &#61485; Lumbar, cervical or thoracic radiculopathy, radicular pain and/or neurogenic claudication due to central disc herniation, osteophyte or osteophyte complexes, severe degenerative disc disease, producing foraminal or central spinal stenosis; OR &#61485; Post-laminectomy syndrome &#61485; Acute herpes zoster associated pain AND &#61485; Radiculopathy, Radicular pain and/or neurogenic claudication is severe enough to greatly impact quality of life or function. An objective pain scale or functional assessment must be performed at baseline (prior to interventions). The same scale must be repeated at each follow-up for assessment of response. AND &#61485; Pain duration of at least four (4) weeks, and the inability to tolerate noninvasive conservative care or medical documentation of failure to respond to four (4) weeks of noninvasive conservative care or acute herpes zoster refractory to conservative management where a four (4) week wait is not required.  Transforaminal EPIDURAL steroid injections (TFESIs) involving a maximum of two (2) levels in one spinal region are considered medically reasonable and necessary. It is important to recognize that most conditions would not ordinarily require ESI at two (2) levels in one spinal region. You can find this rule in the Local Coverage Determination for Epidural Steroid Injections for Pain Management, L38994 (eff 12/05/21).   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 physician/practitioner services. You can find this information on page 86 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 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 $40 copayment for urgent care services. You can find this information on page 83 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 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 in the case where the beneficiary was pronounced dead after the ambulance is called but before the ambulance arrives at the scene: Payment may be made for a BLS service if a ground vehicle is dispatched or at the fixed wing or rotary wing base rate, as applicable, if an air ambulance is dispatched. Neither mileage nor a rural adjustment would be paid. The blended rate amount will otherwise apply. Providers report the A0428 (BLS) HCPCS code. Providers report modifier QL (Patient pronounced dead after ambulance called) in "HCPCS/Rates" instead of the origin and destination modifier. In addition to the QL modifier, providers report modifier QM or QN. You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 10, Section 30.2 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 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 in Chapter 3 on pages 42 to 43 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 contract says that the Plan covers certain dental services as a supplemental (extra) benefit. This benefit includes preventive routine services limited to one initial oral exam, one periodic oral exam twice per calendar year, one cleaning (prophylaxis only, does not include periodontal cleaning) twice per calendar year and one set of bitewings twice per calendar year. You can find this information on page 69 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 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 if you have polyps removed during a colonoscopy, it is considered diagnostic.  Diagnostic colonoscopies are subject to the outpatient surgery cost sharing.  The contract says that enrollees must pay a $250 copayment for outpatient surgery. You can find this information on pages 63 and 84 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 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. 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 43 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 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 $40 copayment for physician/practitioner services in a specialist's office. You can find this information on page 86 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 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 contract also says services must be performed by a participating general dentist. You can find this information on pages 66 to 67 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 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 27 of the Plan's 2021 Evidence of Coverage.