What does “medically necessary” and “medical necessity” mean?
A service is “medically necessary” or a “medical necessity” when it is reasonable and necessary to protect life, to prevent significant illness or significant disability, or to alleviate severe pain. (2014 ACA Sample EOC Page 166) CA WIC §14059.5
Medically Necessary shall mean health care services that a Physician, exercising professional clinical judgment, would provide to a patient for the purpose of preventing, evaluating, diagnosing or treating an illness, injury, disease or its symptoms, and that are:
In accordance with generally accepted standards of medical practice, Illinois Dept of Insurance Definition
The Five Dimensions of the Medical Necessity Definition
- The contractual scope of coverage: whether proposed treatment is explicitly included or excluded in the health plan contract
- Whether the proposed treatment is consistent with professional standards of practice
- Patient safety and setting of the treatment
- Whether the treatment is medical in nature or for the convenience of the health professional or patient and family
- Treatment cost samhsa.gov
most definitions incorporate the principle of providing services which are “reasonable and necessary” or “appropriate” in light of clinical standards of practice
Medicare defines “medical necessity” as services or items reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member. Glossary Meeicare.Gov
Article on Medical Necessity at American Academy of Physicians Website
The Criteria (Clinical UM – Utilization Management)
for establishing the medical necessity of a service:
The service is appropriate for symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of a condition, illness, or injury; provided for diagnosis, direct care, or treatment; in accordance with the standards of good medical practice; not primarily for the convenience of the member or member’s provider; the most appropriate supply or level of service that can be safely provided to the member. samhsa.gov/
Clinically appropriate, in terms of type, frequency, extent, site and duration, and considered effective for the patient’s illness, injury or disease, and Not primarily for the convenience of the patient, Physician or other health care provider, and not more costly than an alternative service or sequence of services at least as likely to produce equivalent therapeutic or diagnostic results as to the diagnosis or treatment of that patient’s illness, injury or disease.
For these purposes, generally accepted standards of medical practice means standards that are based on credible scientific evidence published in peer-reviewed medical literature generally recognized by the relevant medical community, Physician specialty society recommendations and the views of Physicians practicing in relevant clinical areas and any other relevant factors. Blue Cross ppo_30_eoc Page 108
Visit our HSA page for Federal Definition of Medical Expenses
Medical Policies & Clinical UM Guidelines
Like Lap Band Aetna Bulletin on Obesity Surgery (Gastric Bypass) (Lap Band)
Cochlear Implants – Hearing
Clinical Policy Bulletin Index
How do I find a code.com ICD 9, 10, DRG, CPT, (Current Procedural Terminology) diagnosis code, Medical Billing, coding
- Magellan – Mental Health — Medical Necessity Guidelines for providers
- Care Guidelines Levels of Care – Service Definitions – Term Definitions
- Provider Handbook
- See our webpage on finding a Magellan Therapist – Shrink – Psychiatrist
- See our webpage on Mental Health
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Excerpt from Insurance Policy – EOC Evidence of Coverage
The Benefits of this Plan are provided only for Services which are Medically Necessary as defined in this section.
Services which are Medically Necessary include only those which have been established as safe and effective, are furnished under generally accepted professional standards to treat illness, injury or medical condition, and which are:
Consistent with the Plan’s medical policy;
Consistent with the symptoms or diagnosis;
Not furnished primarily for the convenience of the patient, the attending Physician or other provider; and
Furnished at the most appropriate level which can be provided safely and effectively to the patient.
If there are two (2) or more Medically Necessary Services that may be provided for the illness, injury, or medical condition, Blue Shield Life will provide benefits based on the most cost-effective Service.
Hospital Inpatient Services which are Medically Necessary include only those Services which satisfy the above requirements, require the acute bed-patient (overnight) setting, and which could not have been provided in the Physician’s office, the Outpatient department of a Hospital, or in another lesser facility without adversely affecting the patient’s condition or the quality of medical care rendered. Inpatient services not Medically Necessary include hospitalization:
For diagnostic studies that could have been provided on an Outpatient basis;
For medical observation or evaluation;
For personal comfort;
In a pain management center to treat or cure chronic pain; and
For Inpatient Rehabilitation that can be provided on an Outpatient basis. Copied from Blue Shield EOC
Video's trying to explain Medical Necessity
If you know of a better video, please post in comments below or email us the link [email protected]
The U.S. healthcare system wastes close to three-quarters of a trillion dollars a year—and the implications are not just financial. Many of the tests, treatments, and procedures that comprise healthcare waste can expose patients to undue physical, emotional, or financial harm. http://www.milliman.com/waste
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Resources – Links
Big Fines! — In August 2012, DMHC issued a cease-and-desist order against Accountable Health for allegedly conducting illegal utilization reviews and making medical necessity decisions for insurers. DMHC accused the group’s vice president and another employee of engaging in utilization reviews on behalf of nine health plans, even though the employees are not licensed physicians.
Learn More CA Health Line 9.10.2015
References
- See 42 U.S.C. § 1395y(a)(1)(A)
- See http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/overview.asp
- For more information, see Certificate of medical necessity,
External links
- Your Medicare Coverage from medicare.gov
- Medicare Coverage Database which includes NCDs, LMRP/LCDs, as well as NCAs & CALs, from cms.hhs.gov
- Physician Fee Schedule lookup at cms.hhs.gov
- What is medical necessity? by Nancy W. Miller, as found in the Physician’s News Digest
- Defining Medical Necessity Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at academia.edu., by Daniel R. Skinner, published in the journal Public Administration Review (2013).
- Charles Martin, “Medical Use of Cannabis in Australia: ‘Medical necessity’ defences under current Australian law and avenues for reform” (2014) 21(4) Journal of Law and Medicine 875.
- Florida’s Medical Necessity Defense, Reconsidered by Miami attorney Jared H. Beck
Do you really need a stent?
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-01-24/op-ed-blocked-artery-its-unlikely-you-need-a-stent-but-your-doctor-may-not-tell-you-that
Los Angeles times insurance won’t cover helicopter flight
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-10-08/who-pays-ambulance-helicopter-insurance
What about Cosmetic Surgery? Liposuction?
This is something you will have to have your doctors office review with the insurance companies.
Is Liposuction Covered by Health Insurance?
Usually liposuction is not covered by health insurance. Because liposuction is a cosmetic surgical procedure it is not covered by medical insurance unless it has some therapeutic benefit. Female breast reduction surgery is often covered by insurance because surgical breast reduction often relieves chronic pain of the back and shoulders. When female breast reduction is accomplished by tumescent liposuction, insurance may reimburse the patient a portion of the liposuction surgical fees. Similarly, sometimes health insurance will cover liposuction for the treatment of subcutaneous lipomas (small fatty tumors just beneath the skin). Liposuction.com
Liposuction may also be used to treat certain medical conditions, including:
Benign fatty tumors (lipomas).
Abnormal enlargement of the male breasts (gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia).
Problems with metabolism of fat in the body (lipodystrophy).
Excessive sweating in the armpit area (axillary hyperhidrosis).
Liposuction is not used to treat obesity. It will not get rid of cellulite or stretch marks. CIGNA.com A Health Me.com
Here’s clinical bulletins on when these Insurance Companies might consider liposuction, medically necessary:
Oscar – Bariatric Surgery
Aetna – Obesity Surgery
Aetna Cosmetic Surgery
Aetna Abdominoplasty, Suction Lipectomy
More clinical bulletins from Aetna
What do I have to do to get Medicare to approve an MRI?
Sorry, your question is beyond our pay grade. See the CMS link below for complete details only an experienced MD could decipher.
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diagnostic-tests
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers medically necessary clinical diagnostic laboratory tests, when your doctor or practitioner orders them. These tests are done to help your doctor diagnose or rule out a suspected illness or condition. Medicare also covers some preventive services to help prevent, find, or manage a medical problem.
Diagnostic non-laboratory tests
Part B covers diagnostic non-laboratory tests when these apply:
Your doctor or other health care provider orders them.
They’re ordered as part of treating a medical problem.
Examples of diagnostic non-laboratory tests include CT scans, MRIs, EKGs, X-rays, and PET scans. These tests are done to help your doctor diagnose or rule out a suspected illness or condition. Medicare also covers some preventive services to help prevent, find, or manage a medical problem.
Bibliography:
National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
https://health.costhelper.com/mri.html
A spinal MRI is used to find various spinal problems, including nerve damage or tumors. It typically costs $1,000-$5,000,