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Clinical & Payment Policies

Clinical Policies

Clinical policies are one set of guidelines used to assist in administering health plan benefits, either by prior authorization or payment rules.  They include but are not limited to policies relating to evolving medical technologies and procedures, as well as pharmacy policies.  Clinical policies help identify whether services are medically necessary based on information found in generally accepted standards of medical practice; peer-reviewed medical literature; government agency/program approval status; evidence-based guidelines and positions of leading national health professional organizations; views of physicians practicing in relevant clinical areas affected by the policy; and other available clinical information. 

All policies found in the Buckeye Health Plan Clinical Policy Manual apply to Buckeye Health Plan members. Policies in the Buckeye Health Plan Clinical Policy Manual may have either a Buckeye Health Plan or a “Centene” heading.  Buckeye Health Plan utilizes InterQual® criteria for those medical technologies, procedures or pharmaceutical treatments for which a Buckeye Health Plan clinical policy does not exist.  InterQual is a nationally recognized evidence-based decision support tool.  You may access the InterQual® SmartSheet(s)™ for Adult and Pediatric procedures, durable medical equipment and imaging procedures by logging into the secure provider portal or by calling Buckeye Health Plan. In addition, Buckeye Health Plan may from time to time delegate utilization management of specific services; in such circumstances, the delegated vendor’s guidelines may also be used to support medical necessity and other coverage determinations. Other non-clinical policies (e.g., payment policies) or contract terms may further determine whether a technology, procedure or treatment that is not addressed in the Clinical Policy Manuals or  InterQual®criteria is payable by Buckeye Health Plan.   

If you have any questions regarding these policies, please contact Member Services and ask to be directed to the Medical Management department.

A-H I-Q R-Z
25-Hydroxyvitamin D testing in Children and Adolescents (PDF)
Effective Date: 12/29/17		 Implantable Wireless Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitoring (PDF)
Effective Date: 4/30/18		 Radial Head Implant (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/31/18
Acupuncture (PDF)
Effective Date: 11/30/17		 Inhaled Nitric Oxide (PDF)
Effective Date: 9/30/17		 Reduction Mammoplasty and Gynecomastia Surgery (PDF)
Effective Date: 7/31/18
ADHD Assessment and Treatment (PDF)
Effective Date: 05/2020		 Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/28/18		 Sacroiliac Joint Fusion (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/30/18
Allergy Testing and Therapy (PDF)
Effective Date: 1/31/18		 Intestinal and Multivisceral Transplant (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/30/18		 Sacroiliac Joint Interventions for Pain Management (PDF)
Effective Date: 8/31/2018
Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplants for Sickle Cell Anemia and Beta-Thalassemia (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/28/18		 Intradiscal Steroid Injections for Pain Management (PDF)
Effective Date: 8/31/2018		 Sclerotherapy for Vericose Veins (PDF)
Effective Date: 4/30/18
Ambulatory EEG (PDF)
Effective Date: 7/31/20		 Laser Therapy for Skin Conditions (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/30/18		 Selective Nerve Root Blocks and Transforaminal Epidural Injections for Pain Management (PDF)
Effective Date: 8/31/2018
Ambulatory Surgery Center Optimization (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/16/18		 Long Term Care Placement Criteria (PDF)
Effective Date: 4/30/18		 Sickle Cell Disease Observation (PDF)
Effective Date: 7/31/18
Applied Behavioral Analysis (PDF)
Effective Date: 1/31/18		 Low-frequency Ultrasound Therapy for Wound Management (PDF)
Effective Date: 1/31/18		 Spinal Cord Stimulation (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/31/18
Articular Cartilage Defect Repairs (PDF)
Effective Date: 4/30/18		 Lung Transplantation (PDF)
Effective Date: 11/30/17		 Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (PDF)
Effective Date: 1/31/18
Assisted Reproductive Technology (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/31/18		 Lysis of Epidural Lesions (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/31/18		 Tandem Transplant (PDF)
Effective Date: 7/31/18
Balloon Sinus Ostial Dilation (PDF)
Effective Date: 11/31/17		 Measurement of Serum 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D (PDF)
Effective Date: 12/29/2017		 Testing for Rupture of Fetal Membranes (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/30/18
Bariatric Surgery (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/30/18		 Mechanical Stretching Devices for Joint Stiffness and Contracture (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/31/18		 Testing for Select Genitourinary Conditions (PDF)
Effective Date: 9/30/17
Biofeedback (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/31/18		 Monitored Anesthesia Care for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/31/18		 Therapy Services (PT/OT/ST) (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/22/18
Bone-anchored Hearing Aid (PDF)
Effective Date: 12/31/17		 Multiple Sleep Latency Testing (PDF)
Effective Date: 4/30/18		 Thyroid Hormones and Insulin Testing in Pediatrics (PDF)
Effective Date: 12/29/17
Bronchial Thermoplasty (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/31/18		 Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Guidelines (PDF)
Effective Date: 10/30/17		 Total Artificial Heart (PDF)
Effective Date: 12/29/17
Cardiac Biomarker Testing (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/30/18		 Neonatal Sepsis Management (PDF)
Effective Date: 7/31/18		 Total Parenteral Nutrition and Intradialytic Parenteral Nutrition (PDF)
Effective Date: 4/30/18
Carrier Screening in Pregnancy (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/31/18		 Nerve Blocks for Pain Management (PDF)
Effective Date: 8/31/2018		 Transcatheter Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale (PDF)
Effective Date: 12/29/17
Caudal or Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injections for Pain Management (PDF)
Effective Date: 8/31/2018		 NICU Apnea Bradycardia Guidelines (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/31/18		 Trigger Point Injections for Pain Management (PDF)
Effective Date: 8/31/2018
Cell-free Fetal DNA Testing (PDF)
Effective Date: 4/30/18		 NICU Discharge Guidelines (PDF)
Effective Date: 9/30/17		 Ultrasound in Pregnancy (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/30/18
Clinical Trials (PDF)
Effective Date: 11/30/17		 Non-myeloablative Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/28/18		 Urinary Incontinence Devices and Treatments (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/31/18
Cochlear Implant Replacements (PDF)
Effective Date: 7/31/18		 Obstetrical Home Health Care Programs (PDF)
Effective Date: 1/31/18		 Urodynamic Testing (PDF)
Effective Date: 10/30/17
Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/31/18		 Optic Nerve Decompression Surgery (PDF)
Effective Date: 9/30/17		 Vagus Nerve Stimulation (PDF)
Effective Date: 10/31/17
Dental Anesthesia (PDF)
Effective Date: 4/30/18		 Outpatient Testing for Drugs of Abuse (PDF)
Effective Date: 7/31/18		 Ventricular Assist Devices (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/28/18
Digital Electroencephalography Spike Analysis (PDF)
Effective Date: 1/31/18		 Pancreas Transplant (PDF)
Effective Date: 1/31/18		 Ventriculectomy and Cardiomyoplasty (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/28/18
Disc Decompression Procedures (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/31/18		 Panniculectomy (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/31/18		 Wheelchair Seating (PDF)
Effective Date: 10/31/17
Discography (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/30/18		 Pediatric Heart Transplant (PDF)
Effective Date: 1/31/18		 Wireless Motility Capsule (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/31/18
DNA Analysis of Stool to Screen for Colorectal Cancer (PDF)
Effective Date: 7/31/20		 Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Stroke Prevention (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/31/18		 Zika Virus Testing (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/31/18
Donor Lymphocyte Infusion (PDF)
Effective Date: 11/30/17		 Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation for Voiding Dysfunction (PDF)
Effective Date: 10/30/17

Cardiac Rehabilitation (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/31/2019
Durable Medical Equipment (DME) (PDF)
Effective Date: 7/31/18		 Proton and Neutron Beam Therapy (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/28/18

Video Electroencephalograhic (VEEG) Monitoring (PDF)

Effective Date: 10/31/2019
Electric Tumor Treating Fields (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/31/18

Scanning Computerized Ophthalmic Diagnostic Imaging (SCODI) (PDF)

Effective Date: 1/1/18

Antithrombin III (Atryn, Thrombate) (PDF)

Effective Date: 10/31/2019
Electroencephalography in the Evaluation of Headache (PDF)
Effective Date: 12/29/18

Extended Ophthalmoscopy (PDF)

Effective Date: 1/1/18

Implantable Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (PDF)

Effective Date: 11/1/2019
Endometrial Ablation (PDF)
Effective Date: 7/31/18

Fluorescein Angiography (PDF)

Effective Date: 1/1/18

Diagnostic Testing Guidelines: 2019-Novel Coronavirus (PDF)

Effective Date: 3/1/2020
EpiFix Wound Treatment (PDF)
Effective Date: 1/1/2019

Fundus Photography (PDF)

Effective Date: 1/1/18

  
Essure Removal (PDF)
Effective Date: 11/30/17

Gonioscopy (PDF)

Effective Date: 10/1/16

  
Evoked Potential Testing (PDF)
Effective Date: 11/30/17

External Ocular Photography (PDF)

Effective Date: 10/1/16

  
Experimental Technologies (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/30/18

Visual Field Testing (PDF)

Effective Date: 1/1/18

  
Facet Joint Interventions for Pain Management (PDF)
Effective Date: 9/14/2018		    
Fecal Calprotectin Assay (PDF)
Effective Date: 11/30/17		    
Fecal Incontinence Treatments (PDF)
Effective Date: 12/29/17		    
Ferriscan R2-MRI (PDF)
Effective Date: 11/30/17		    
Fertility Preservation (PDF)
Effective Date: 10/30/17		    
Fetal Surgery in Utero for Prenatally Diagnosed Malformations (PDF)
Effective Date: 10/30/17		    
Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (PDF)
Effective Date: 12/29/17		    
Functional MRI (PDF)
Effective Date: 10/31/17		    
Gastric Electrical Stimulation (PDF)
Effective Date: 10/31/17		    
Gender Affirming Procedures (PDF)
Effective Date: 11/30/17		    
Genetic Testing (PDF)
Effective Date: 4/30/18		    
H. Pylori Serology Testing (PDF)
Effective Date: 12/29/17		    
Heart-Lung Transplant (PDF)
Effective Date: 4/30/18		    
Holter Monitors (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/30/18		    
Home Birth (PDF)
Effective Date: 12/29/17		    
Home Phototherapy for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia (PDF)
Effective Date: 12/21/17		    
Homocysteine Testing (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/2020		    
Hospice Services (PDF)
Effective Date: 1/1/18		    
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/28/18		    
Hyperemesis Gravidarum Treatment (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/30/18		    
Hyperhidrosis Treatments (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/28/18		    

 

Payment Policies

Health care claims payment policies are guidelines used to assist in administering payment rules based on generally accepted principles of correct coding.  They are used to help identify whether health care services are correctly coded for reimbursement.  Each payment rule is sourced by a generally accepted coding principle. They include, but are not limited to claims processing guidelines referenced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Publication 100-04, Claims Processing Manual for  physicians/non-physician practitioners, the CMS National Correct Coding Initiative policy manual (procedure-to-procedure coding combination edits and medically unlikely edits), Current Procedural Technology guidance published by the American Medical Association (AMA) for reporting medical procedures and services, health plan clinical policies based on the appropriateness of health care and medical necessity, and at times state-specific claims reimbursement guidance.

All policies found in the Buckeye Health Plan Payment Policy Manual apply with respect to Buckeye Health Plan members. Policies in the Buckeye Health Plan Payment Policy Manual may have either a Buckeye Health Plan or a “Centene” heading.  In addition, Buckeye Health Plan may from time to time employ a vendor that applies payment policies to specific services; in such circumstances, the vendor’s guidelines may also be used to determine whether a service has been correctly coded. Other policies (e.g., clinical policies) or contract terms may further determine whether a technology, procedure or treatment that is not addressed in the Payment Policy Manual is payable by Buckeye Health Plan.     

If you have any questions regarding these policies, please contact Member Services and ask to be directed to the Medical Management department.

A-H I-Q R-Z
3-Day Payment Window (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/1/18		 Inpatient Consultation (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/10/18		 Sleep Studies Place of Service (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/1/17
30-Day Readmission (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/20/18		 Inpatient Only Procedures (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/10/18		 Status "B" Bundled Services (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/10/18
Add on Code Billed Without Primary Code (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/24/18		 Intravenous Hydration (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/25/18		 Status "P" Bundled Services (PDF)
Effective Date: 4/27/17
Assistant Surgeon (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/1/18		 Leveling of ER Services (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/17/18		 Supplies Billed on Same Day as Surgery (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/28/18
Bilateral Procedures (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/1/18		 Maximum Units (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/11/18		 Transgender Related Services (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/15/18
Cerumen Removal (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/28/18		 Moderate Conscious Sedation (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/5/18		 Unbundled Professional Services (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/1/18
Clean Claims (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/9/18		 Modifier DOS Validation (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/24/18		 Unbundled Surgical Procedures (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/1/18
Clinic Facility Change (PDF)
Effective Date: 5/8/18		 Modifier to Procedure Code Validation (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/23/18		 Unlisted Procedure Codes (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/24/18
Clinical Labatory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) (PDF) Effective Date: 2/27/18
 Multiple CPT Code Replacement (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/28/18		 Urine Specimen Validity Testing (PDF)
Effective Date: 8/13/17

Clinical Validation of Modifer 25 (PDF)

Effective Date: 2/24/18

 NCCI Unbundling (PDF)
Effective Date: 9/9/16		 Visits On Same Day As Surgery (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/1/18
Clinical Validation of Modifier 59 (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/24/18		 Never Paid Events (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/5/18		 Wheelchairs and Accessories (PDF)
Effective Date: 1/13/17
Coding Overview (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/9/18		 New Patient (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/10/18		 Telehealth COVID Emergency Policy (PDF)
Cosmetic Procedures (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/20/18

Non-obstetrical Pelvic and
Transvaginal Ultrasounds (PDF)

Effective Date: 6/1/2018

  
Distinct Procedural Modifiers: XE, XS, XP, & XU (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/10/18		 Not Medically Necessary IP Serv (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/1/18		  
Duplicate Primary Code Billing (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/10/18		 Outpatient Consultations (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/13/18		  
E & M Bundling with Labs and Radiology (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/24/18		 Physician's Consultation Services (PDF)
Effective Date: 11/25/17		  
E&M Medical Decision-Making (PDF)
Effective Date: 8/7/17		 Physician's Office Lab Testing (PDF)
Effective Date: 10/4/17		  
Global Maternity Package (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/1/18

Place of Service Mismatch (PDF)

Effective Date: 9/1/2018

  
Hospital Visit Codes Billed with Labs (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/20/18		 Post-operative Visits (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/1/18		  
  Pre-operative Visits (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/1/18		  
  Professional Component (PDF)
Effective Date: 6/28/18		  
  Professional Services (Visit Codes) Billed With Labs (PDF)
Effective Date: 3/10/18		  
  Pulse Oximetry (PDF)
Effective Date: 2/13/18		  
  Robotic Surgery (PDF)
Effective Date: 4/21/17