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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 screening tests are excluded from coverage. The only exceptions are for the following 
services: 
 
1. screening mammography,  
2. colorectal cancer screening tests, 
3. screening pelvic exams,  
4. prostate cancer screening tests,  
5. glaucoma screening exams,  
6. ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA),  
7. cardiovascular disease screening tests,  
8. diabetes screening tests, and 
9. screening electrocardiograms, and 
10. certain other testing recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force and approved by 
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service. 
 
You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 411.15(a)(1) and 42 CFR Section 410.64. 
 
The rules say that molecular pathology procedures (Tier 1 and Tier 2) may be eligible for coverage 
when ALL of the following criteria are met: 
 Alternative laboratory or clinical tests to definitively diagnose the disorder/identify the condition are 
unavailable or results are clearly equivocal; AND 
 Availability of a clinically valid test, based on published peer reviewed medical literature; AND  
 Testing assay(s) are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved/cleared or if LDT (lab developed 
test) or LDT protocol or FDA modified test(s) the laboratory documentation should support assay(s) 
analytical validity and clinical utility; AND  
 Results of the testing must directly impact treatment or management of the beneficiary; AND  
 For testing panels, including but not limited to, multiple genes or multiple conditions, and in cases 
where a tiered approach/method is clinically available, testing would be covered ONLY for the number 
of genes or test that are reasonable and necessary to establish a diagnosis; AND   Individual has not previously received genetic testing for the disease/condition. (In general, diagnostic 
genetic testing for a disease should be performed once in a lifetime.) 
 
Screening services such as pre-symptomatic genetic tests and services used to detect an undiagnosed disease or 
disease predisposition are not a benefit and are not covered. Similarly, the costs of tests/examinations that 
assess the risk of a condition unless the risk assessment clearly and directly effects the management of the 
patient may not be reimbursed. You can find this rule in the Local Coverage Determination for Molecular 
Pathology Procedures, L34519.  
 
The rules say that all diagnostic x-ray tests, diagnostic laboratory tests, and other diagnostic tests must be 
ordered by the physician who is treating the beneficiary, that is, the physician who furnishes a consultation or 
treats a beneficiary for a specific medical problem and who uses the results in the management of the 
beneficiary's specific medical problem. Tests not ordered by the physician who is treating the beneficiary are 
not reasonable and necessary. You can find this rule in 42 CFR, Section 410.32. 
 
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.