This LCD only applies to **diagnostic** colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies.
Refer to the Medicare Internet Only Manuals (IOM) for coverage of colorectal
cancer screening procedures.  
  
Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy testing allows for the direct visualization of
the lower gastrointestinal tract. Inspection is performed with an illuminated
tube. These procedures are performed to detect polyps, tumors and other
lesions of the intestines. The site of pathology can be identified during a
colonoscopy and a biopsy can be obtained.  
  
Definitions:

  1. Sigmoidoscopy is the examination of the entire rectum and sigmoid colon, and includes examination of a portion of the descending colon.
  2. Colonoscopy is the examination of the entire colon, from the rectum to the cecum, and may include the examination of the terminal ileum.

  
**Indications and Limitations of Coverage and/or Medical Necessity**

A. The following are Medicare-covered indications for diagnostic colonoscopy:

  1. Evaluation of an abnormality on barium enema or other imaging study, which is likely to be clinically significant, such as filling a defect or stricture.
  2. Evaluation of unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding: 
    1. Hematochezia not thought to be from rectum or perianal source,
    2. Melena of unknown origin; after an upper GI source has been excluded,
    3. Presence of fecal occult blood,
    4. Positive stool DNA test results. (e.g. guaiac/Fecal immunochemical test {FIT   
Test}/Cologuard).

  3. Unexplained iron deficiency anemia.
  4. Examination to evaluate entire colon for synchronous cancer or polyps in a patient with treatable cancer or polyp.
  5. Chronic inflammatory bowel disease of the colon if more precise diagnosis or determination of the extent of activity of disease will influence immediate management.
  6. Clinically significant diarrhea of unexplained origin with additional symptoms (e.g., with weight loss).
  7. Intraoperative identification of the site of a lesion that cannot be detected by palpation or gross inspection at surgery (e.g., polypectomy site or location of a bleeding source).
  8. Treatment of bleeding from such lesions as vascular malformation, ulceration, neoplasm, and polypectomy site (e.g., electrocoagulation, heater probe, laser or injection therapy).
  9. Removal of foreign body.
  10. Excision of colonic polyps.
  11. Decompression of acute nontoxic megacolon or sigmoid volvulus, pseudo obstruction of the colon (Ogilvie's syndrome).
  12. Balloon dilatation of stenotic lesions (e.g., anastomotic strictures).
  13. Palliative treatment of stenosing or bleeding neoplasm.
  14. Marking a neoplasm for localization.
  15. Evaluation of a patient with endocarditis due to streptococcus bovis or any bacterium of enteric origin.
  16. Suspected disease of terminal ileum.
  17. Evaluation of acute colonic ischemia/ischemic bowel disease.
  18. In patients with Crohn's colitis and chronic ulcerative colitis: colonoscopy every one or two years with multiple biopsies for detection of cancer and dysplasia in patients with: 
    1. Pancolitis of eight or more years duration; or
    2. Left-sided colitis of 15 or more years duration.
  19. Evaluation within 6 months of the removal of sessile polyps to determine and document total excision. If evaluation indicates that residual polyp is present, excision should be done with repeat colonoscopy within 6 months. After evidence of total excision without return of the polyp, repeat colonoscopy yearly.
  20. Patients undergoing curative resection for colon or rectal cancer should undergo a colonoscopy 1 year after the resection (or 1 year following the performance of the colonoscopy that was performed to clear the colon of synchronous disease).

B. A diagnostic colonoscopy is not considered medically necessary for the
following conditions:

  1. Chronic, stable, irritable bowel syndrome or chronic abdominal pain. There are unusual exceptions in which colonoscopy may be done to rule out organic disease, especially if symptoms are unresponsive to therapy.
  2. Acute limited diarrhea.
  3. Hemorrhoids.
  4. Metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site in the absence of colonic symptoms when it will not influence management.
  5. Routine follow-up of inflammatory bowel disease (except for cancer surveillance in Crohn's colitis, chronic ulcerative colitis).
  6. Routine examination of the colon in patients about to undergo elective abdominal surgery for non-colonic disease.
  7. Upper GI bleeding or melena with a demonstrated upper GI source.

C. A diagnostic flexible sigmoidoscopy is covered for the following
indications:

  1. Evaluation of suspected distal colonic disease when there is no indication for a colonoscopy.
  2. Evaluation for anastomotic recurrence in rectosigmoid carcinoma.
  3. All of the covered indications listed for a diagnostic colonoscopy.

D. A diagnostic flexible sigmoidoscopy is not indicated when a colonoscopy is
indicated.

**NA**

**NA**