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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 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 a Medicare plan may restrict enrollees 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 an enrollees medical needs. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.112(a)(3). 
 
The rules say that plans may specify the networks of providers from whom enrollees may obtain services. The 
rules say plans may require prior authorization for most in-network services if the health plan ensures that all 
covered services are available and accessible under the plan. The plan must arrange for specialty care outside of 
the plan provider network when network providers are unavailable or inadequate to meet an enrollee's medical 
needs. Plans offering coordinated care plans must ensure continuity of care and integration of services through 
arrangements with contracted providers. This includes services available through contracting or non-
contracting providers in the area serviced by the health plan including nursing home and community based 
services. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.112. 
 
The rules say that in order to determine the global period for major surgeries, count 1 day immediately before 
the day of surgery, the day of surgery, and the 90 days immediately following the day of surgery. The rules say 
that the global surgery package of procedure with a global period of 90 days includes all additional medical or 
surgical services required of the surgeon during the postoperative period of the surgery because of 
complications which do not require additional trips to the operating room, follow-up visits during the 
postoperative period of the surgery that are related to recovery from the surgery, among other related 
services.  You can find this information in the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12, Section 40.1. 
 
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 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 9 of the 2022 Evidence 
of Coverage.