A4452 Medicare coverage

Local coverage indication

In addition to the “reasonable and necessary” criteria contained in this LCD there are other payment rules, which are discussed in the following documents, that must also be met prior to Medicare reimbursement: The LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section.

Excerpt from LCD L33738 version 18, effective 01/01/2020. CMS LCD L33738.

Local coverage indication

Tape (A4450, A4452) which is used to secure an indwelling catheter to the beneficiary's body is covered. More than 10 units (1 unit = 18 sq. in.; 10 units = 180 sq. in. = 5 yds. of 1 inch tape) per month will be denied as not reasonable and necessary. Adhesive catheter anchoring devices (A4333) and catheter leg straps (A4334) for indwelling urethral catheters are covered. More than 3 per week of A4333 or 1 per month of A4334 will be denied as not reasonable and necessary. A catheter/tube anchoring device (A5200) is covered and separately payable when it is used to anchor a covered suprapubic tube or nephrostomy tube. If code A5200 is used to anchor an indwelling urethral catheter, the claim will be denied as not reasonable and necessary.

Excerpt from LCD L33803 version 61, effective 04/01/2026. CMS LCD L33803.

Local coverage indication

In addition to the “reasonable and necessary” criteria contained in this LCD there are other payment rules, which are discussed in the following documents, that must also be met prior to Medicare reimbursement: The LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section.

Excerpt from LCD L33828 version 27, effective 01/01/2024. CMS LCD L33828.

Local coverage indication

In addition to the “reasonable and necessary” criteria contained in this LCD there are other payment rules, which are discussed in the following documents, that must also be met prior to Medicare reimbursement: The LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section.

Excerpt from LCD L33832 version 20, effective 01/01/2024. CMS LCD L33832.

Local coverage indication

In addition to the “reasonable and necessary” criteria contained in this LCD there are other payment rules, which are discussed in the following documents, that must also be met prior to Medicare reimbursement: The LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section.

Excerpt from LCD L33831 version 48, effective 01/01/2024. CMS LCD L33831.

What NCD 270.4 says the item is

An accepted procedure for healing decubitus ulcers is to remove dead tissue from the lesions and to keep them clean to promote the growth of new tissue. This may be accomplished by hydrotherapy (whirlpool) treatments.

National coverage indication, NCD 270.4

Hydrotherapy (whirlpool) treatment for decubitus ulcers is a covered service under Medicare for patients when treatment is reasonable and necessary. Some other methods of treating decubitus ulcers, the safety and effectiveness of which have not been established, are not covered under the Medicare program. Some examples of these types of treatments are: ultraviolet light, low intensity direct current, topical application of oxygen, and topical dressings with Balsam of Peru in castor oil.

Excerpt from NCD 270.4 version 1. CMS NCD 270.4.

National coverage indication, NCD 270.5

Porcine (pig) skin dressings are covered, if reasonable and necessary for the individual patient as an occlusive dressing for burns, donor sites of a homograft, and decubiti and other ulcers. Gradient pressure dressings are Jobst elasticized heavy duty dressings used to reduce hypertrophic scarring and joint contractures following burn injury. They are covered when used for that purpose.

Excerpt from NCD 270.5 version 1. CMS NCD 270.5.

From A52463

In addition to policy specific documentation requirements, there are general documentation requirements that are applicable to all DMEPOS policies. These general requirements are located in the DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS section of the LCD. Refer to the LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements article, located at the bottom of this Policy Article under the Related Local Coverage Documents section for additional information regarding GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS and the POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS. Based on Social Security Act §1834(h)(5), for purposes of determining the reasonableness and medical necessity of orthotics and prosthetics, documentation created by an orthotist or prosthetist shall be considered part of the individual’s medical record to support documentation created by the treating practitioner. When either code V2629 or L8048 is billed, the claim must be accompanied by a brief description of the item in the narrative field. When L8048 is provided, a drawing/photograph of the item provided must be available upon request. The treating practitioner's records must contain information which supports the medical necessity of the item ordered. The prosthetist’s documentation of the necessity for a replacement prosthesis is appropriate documentation for that claim if the replacement is necessitated by other than medical reasons.

CMS source A52463

From A55426, Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACs

GENERAL There are numerous CMS manual requirements, reasonable and necessary (R&N) requirements, benefit category, and other statutory and regulatory requirements that must be met in order for payment to be justified. In the event of a claim review, a DMEPOS supplier must provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the applicable criteria have been met thus justifying payment. Before submitting a claim to Medicare, the DMEPOS supplier must have on file an SWO, a WOPD (if applicable), information from the treating practitioner concerning the patient's diagnosis, and any information required for the use of specific

CMS article A55426

From A52521

In addition to policy specific documentation requirements, there are general documentation requirements that are applicable to all DMEPOS policies. These general requirements are located in the DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS section of the LCD. Refer to the LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements article, located at the bottom of this Policy Article under the Related Local Coverage Documents section for additional information regarding GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS and the POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS discussed below. When the prescribing practitioner is also the supplier, and is permitted to furnish specific items of DMEPOS, a separate order is not required; however, the medical record must still contain all of the required order elements. For intermittent catheterization using a sterile intermittent catheter kit (A4297, A4353), documentation in the medical records of a diagnosis of spinal cord injury (SCI) is sufficient to establish the beneficiary is immunocompromised. CONTINUED MEDICAL NEED For all DMEPOS items, the initial justification for medical need is established at the time the item(s) is first ordered, therefore, beneficiary medical records demonstrating that the item is reasonable and necessary are created just prior to, or at the time of, the creation of the initial prescription.

CMS source A52521

From A55426, Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACs

GENERAL There are numerous CMS manual requirements, reasonable and necessary (R&N) requirements, benefit category, and other statutory and regulatory requirements that must be met in order for payment to be justified. In the event of a claim review, a DMEPOS supplier must provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the applicable criteria have been met thus justifying payment. Before submitting a claim to Medicare, the DMEPOS supplier must have on file an SWO, a WOPD (if applicable), information from the treating practitioner concerning the patient's diagnosis, and any information required for the use of specific

CMS article A55426

From A52487

In addition to policy specific documentation requirements, there are general documentation requirements that are applicable to all DMEPOS policies. These general requirements are located in the DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS section of the LCD. Refer to the LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements article, located at the bottom of this Policy Article under the Related Local Coverage Documents section for additional information regarding GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS and the POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS discussed below. For quantities of supplies that exceed the usual maximum amount, there must be information in the medical record that explains the need for the increased amount. This information must be available upon request. Claims for tape and adhesive (A4450, A4452, A5120) that are billed without an AU modifier or another modifier indicating coverage under a different policy will be rejected as missing information. CONTINUED MEDICAL NEED For all DMEPOS items, the initial justification for medical need is established at the time the item(s) is first ordered, therefore, beneficiary medical records demonstrating that the item is reasonable and necessary are created just prior to, or at the time of, the creation of the initial prescription. Once initial medical need is established, ongoing need for ostomy supplies is assumed to be met.

CMS source A52487

From A55426, Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACs

GENERAL There are numerous CMS manual requirements, reasonable and necessary (R&N) requirements, benefit category, and other statutory and regulatory requirements that must be met in order for payment to be justified. In the event of a claim review, a DMEPOS supplier must provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the applicable criteria have been met thus justifying payment. Before submitting a claim to Medicare, the DMEPOS supplier must have on file an SWO, a WOPD (if applicable), information from the treating practitioner concerning the patient's diagnosis, and any information required for the use of specific

CMS article A55426

From A52492

In addition to policy specific documentation requirements, there are general documentation requirements that are applicable to all DMEPOS policies. These general requirements are located in the DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS section of the LCD. Refer to the LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements article, located at the bottom of this Policy Article under the Related Local Coverage Documents section for additional information regarding GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS and the POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS discussed below. The diagnosis code that justifies the need for these items must be included on each claim.

CMS source A52492

From A55426, Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACs

GENERAL There are numerous CMS manual requirements, reasonable and necessary (R&N) requirements, benefit category, and other statutory and regulatory requirements that must be met in order for payment to be justified. In the event of a claim review, a DMEPOS supplier must provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the applicable criteria have been met thus justifying payment. Before submitting a claim to Medicare, the DMEPOS supplier must have on file an SWO, a WOPD (if applicable), information from the treating practitioner concerning the patient's diagnosis, and any information required for the use of specific

CMS article A55426

From A54563

In addition to policy specific documentation requirements, there are general documentation requirements that are applicable to all DMEPOS policies. These general requirements are located in the DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS section of the LCD. Refer to the LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements article, located at the bottom of this Policy Article under the Related Local Coverage Documents section for additional information regarding GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS and the POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS discussed below. A new order is needed if a new dressing is added or if the quantity of an existing dressing to be used is increased. A new order is required every 3 months for each dressing being used. When the prescribing practitioner is also the supplier, and is permitted to furnish specific items of DMEPOS, a separate order is not required; however, the medical record must still contain all of the required order elements. For initial wound evaluations, the treating practitioner’s medical record, nursing home, or home care nursing records must specify: The type of qualifying wound (see above); and, Information regarding the location, number, and size of qualifying wounds being treated with a dressing; and, Whether the dressing is being used as a primary or secondary dressing or for some noncovered use (e.g.

CMS source A54563

From A55426, Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACs

GENERAL There are numerous CMS manual requirements, reasonable and necessary (R&N) requirements, benefit category, and other statutory and regulatory requirements that must be met in order for payment to be justified. In the event of a claim review, a DMEPOS supplier must provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the applicable criteria have been met thus justifying payment. Before submitting a claim to Medicare, the DMEPOS supplier must have on file an SWO, a WOPD (if applicable), information from the treating practitioner concerning the patient's diagnosis, and any information required for the use of specific

CMS article A55426