**Notice:** It is not appropriate to bill Medicare for services that are not
covered (as described by this entire LCD) as if they are covered. When billing
for non-covered services, use the appropriate modifier.  
  
Compliance with the provisions in this policy may be monitored and addressed
through post payment data analysis and subsequent medical review audits.  
  
 ** _History/Background and/or General Information  
  
_** Routine glucose monitoring of diabetics is never covered in a SNF. Please
refer to the CMS manuals listed under the IOM Citations and the Federal
Register sections above for complete coverage information related to blood
glucose monitoring and glucose monitoring in a SNF.  
  

Medicare pays for a blood glucose test only when the service meets all of the
conditions of payment for a test payable under the clinical laboratory fee
schedule including that the test must be ordered by the physician who is
treating the beneficiary and the physician must use the results in the
management of the beneficiary's specific medical condition.  
  
For payment to be made for a blood glucose test under Medicare Part B, a
physician must certify that each test is medically necessary. A standing order
for many tests over a time period is not sufficient documentation.  
  
Repeated performance of finger-stick blood glucose tests to maintain standing
orders for insulin injection or oral hypoglycemic agents does not meet the
criteria for Part B payment in a SNF. Payment for nursing care glucose
monitoring is encompassed under Medicare Part A and other payment methods. _If
the patient is in a skilled nursing facility, routine glucose monitoring
(including any tests which are not promptly reported) is a part of routine
personal care and is not a separately billed procedure (PM AB-00-108, December
2000)_.  
  
  
The home glucose monitoring device is on the list of instruments that can be
administered by providers registered under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement
Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), including providers registered with only a
certificate of waiver. However, Medicare Part B may only pay for a glucose
monitoring device and related disposable supplies under the durable medical
equipment benefit if the equipment is used in the home or in an institution
that is used as a home. A hospital or SNF is _not_ considered a home under the
SSA, Sect. 1861 (h).

  
Blood glucose values are often necessary for the management of patients with
diabetes mellitus, where hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia are often present.
Please refer to CMS IOM Publication 100-03, _Medicare National Coverage
Determinations Manual_ , Chapter 1, Part 3, Section 190.20 for guidelines on
blood glucose monitoring for the management of patients with diabetes
mellitus.  
  
The frequency of monitoring of blood glucose values should be determined by
the physician on an individual basis while considering and documenting any of
the following factors that affect glycemic control:  
  

  * Variations and degree of glycemic control as documented by hemoglobin A1C levels
  * Treatment with insulin versus oral agents
  * Frequency of symptoms of hypoglycemia
  * Frequency of prior adjustments in therapy
  * Motivation/ability for self-care and the presence of limitations such as language barriers and mental illness
  * Presence of diabetic complications

  
Patients who have exhibited long-term control of blood glucose levels as
evidenced by normal (per reference laboratory range) or steady A1C levels over
a 6 month period, minimal or no changes in diabetic therapy, OR no
complications of diabetes mellitus (to include retinopathy, neuropathy, or
diabetic renal or vascular complications) do not require frequent blood
glucose monitoring.

  
Implicitly, the laboratory result must be _reported to the physician promptly
in order for the physician to use the result and instruct continuation or
modification of patient care; this includes the physician's order for another
laboratory service._ Compliance program guidance for laboratory services sets
forth conditions under which a physician's order for a repeat laboratory
service can qualify as an order for another covered laboratory service. A
standing order is not usually acceptable documentation for a covered
laboratory service.  
  
Any laboratory study ordered on a continuing basis without a cutoff time frame
_and_ without documentation in the medical record supporting that any
previously ordered study was evaluated, will be considered a standing order
and therefore, not reimbursable. Examples of acceptable time frames are as
follows: daily times 3 days, BID times 2 days, weekly FBS times 2 weeks.  
  
It should be noted that this policy does not prohibit a nursing home's Medical
Director from authorizing services or procedures in emergency situations in a
manner consistent with the Medical Director's obligations under state or
federal law. In such instances; however, there must be documentation as to why
the circumstances warrant intervention into the attending physician's role of
caring for the patient.  
  
As stated above, for a laboratory test to be covered, the result must be
reported to the physician promptly in order for the physician to use the
result and instruct continuation or modification of patient care. The
following are time frames for use in reporting the results of blood glucose
testing "promptly" to the physician.  
  
 **_Reporting Abnormal Blood Glucose Results_**  
  
When reporting the abnormal values listed below, the time frame in which the
blood glucose result must be reported to the physician is dictated by that
result.  
  
When blood glucose values are 60-90 mg/dl (low) or 160-299 mg/dl (high), the
physician must be notified of the results **within 12 hours**.  
  
When blood glucose values are below 60 mg/dl (low) or over 300 mg/dl (high),
the physician must be notified of the results **immediately**.  
  
The above timeframes are appropriate for most patients. Depending on patient
history and circumstances, shorter time frames may be clinically warranted.  
  
When reporting an abnormal blood glucose value to the physician, the previous
two or more results, as appropriate, should also be provided for trending
purposes.  
  
 _**Reporting Blood Glucose Results within Normal Limits**_  
  
In the absence of abnormal blood glucose results, the condition of the patient
dictates the time frame for physician notification. The physician should be
provided with a trending report consisting of the appropriate number of blood
glucose values based on the frequency of monitoring.  
  
 **Patient Category Timeframes for reporting to physician**  
  
 **Category A:**  
  
Blood glucose results must be reported to the physician **within 12 hours**
for patients who have documented:

  1. Unstable diabetes mellitus with or without unstable glucose levels and are at risk for alterations in glucose levels, OR
  2. Fingerstick glucose monitoring performed at least two (2) times per day.

  
**Category B:**  
  
Blood glucose results must be reported to the physician **within 24 hours**
for patients who have documented:

  1. Diabetes mellitus which is not completely stable and are at some risk for alterations in glucose levels, although with less probability and/or lower magnitude of fluctuations, OR
  2. Fingerstick glucose monitoring performed less than two (2) times per day.

  
Effective January 1, 2005, the Medicare law expanded coverage to diabetic
screening services. Some forms of blood glucose testing covered under this
national coverage determination may be covered for screening purposes subject
to specified frequencies. See 42 CFR 410.18 and section 90, chapter 18, of the
Claims Processing Manual, for a full description of this screening benefit.  
  
In addition, all other criteria for coverage as delineated in this LCD and
Medicare regulations must be satisfied.  
  
 **_Limitations_**

  
Blood glucose measurements without prompt physician notification as outlined
above are not covered as diagnostic laboratory tests.  
  
The redetermination process may be utilized for consideration of services
performed outside of the reasonable and necessary requirements in this LCD.