HIGHMARK COMMERCIAL MEDICAL POLICY - DELAWARE

 
 

Medical Policy:
X-21-015
Topic:
Mammography
Section:
Radiology
Effective Date:
December 30, 2019
Issued Date:
December 30, 2019
Last Revision Date:
December 2019
Annual Review:
December 2019
 
 

Screening mammography is an x-ray of the breast used to aid in the detection of breast cancer in an individual with no signs or symptoms of disease.

Diagnostic mammography is an x-ray used to further evaluate a finding in a screening mammography or used when an individual has other signs or symptoms or a history of cancer.

Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) is a three dimensional view of the breast using x-ray technology, where the x-ray tube moves in an arc around the stabilized breast, and these images (slices) are then sent to a computer to produce the three dimensional image.

Policy Position

Screening Mammography 

Payment will be made for one screening mammography including computer-aided detection (CAD) OR screening mammography with digital breast tomosynthesis per calendar year for asymptomatic individuals with female anatomy forty (40) years of age or older.

Screening digital breast tomosynthesis (77063) should not be reported as a stand-alone code and be reported with the primary screening mammography procedure (77067).  When 77063 is reported without the appropriate screening mammography code, the add on code of 77063 will deny.

Self-referred screening mammograms for individuals with female anatomy under age forty (40) are not covered.

Prior to rendering the DBT service the following requirements for member safety, education and informed choice must be met:

  • Provide educational materials to the patient outlining the study options so an informed decision can be made by the patient.
  • Inform the patient of additional radiation exposure when both a 2-D mammography and 3-D DBT are performed.

77063

77067

 

 

 

 

 




Diagnostic Mammography

Diagnostic mammograms are covered according to a member’s individual or group customer benefits, that includes standard diagnostic mammography and diagnostic digital breast tomosynthesis.   

If reporting the HCPCS II code for diagnostic digital breast tomosynthesis (G0279), it should be reported separately with the appropriate diagnostic primary mammogram service code.  Procedure code, G0279, is an add on code.

77061

77062

77065

77066

G0279

 

 




Place of Service: Outpatient



The policy position applies to all commercial lines of business



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This policy is designed to address medical guidelines that are appropriate for the majority of individuals with a particular disease, illness, or condition. Each person's unique clinical or other circumstances may warrant individual consideration, based on review of applicable medical records, as well as other regulatory, contractual and/or legal requirements.

Medical policies do not constitute medical advice, nor are they intended to govern the practice of medicine. They are intended to reflect Highmark's reimbursement and coverage guidelines. Coverage for services may vary for individual members, based on the terms of the benefit contract, and subject to the applicable laws of your state.


Highmark retains the right to review and update its medical policy guidelines at its sole discretion. These guidelines are the proprietary information of Highmark. Any sale, copying or dissemination of the medical policies is prohibited; however, limited copying of medical policies is permitted for individual use.

Discrimination is Against the Law
The Claims Administrator/Insurer complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/Insurer does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/ Insurer:

  • Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as: 
    • Qualified sign language interpreters
    • Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)
  • Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as: 
    • Qualified interpreters
    • Information written in other languages

If you need these services, contact the Civil Rights Coordinator. 

If you believe that the Claims Administrator/Insurer has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with: Civil Rights Coordinator, P.O. Box 22492, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Phone: 1-866-286-8295, TTY: 711, Fax: 412-544-2475, email: CivilRightsCoordinator@highmarkhealth.org. You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Civil Rights Coordinator is available to help you. 

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at: 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
200 Independence Avenue, SW 
Room 509F, HHH Building 
Washington, D.C. 20201 
1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD) 

Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html. 

Insurance or benefit/claims administration may be provided by Highmark, Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Coverage Advantage, Highmark Health Insurance Company, First Priority Life Insurance Company, First Priority Health, Highmark Benefits Group, Highmark Select Resources, Highmark Senior Solutions Company or Highmark Senior Health Company, all of which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. 





Medical policies do not constitute medical advice, nor are they intended to govern the practice of medicine. They are intended to reflect reimbursement and coverage guidelines. Coverage for services may vary for individual members, based on the terms of the benefit contract.

Discrimination is Against the Law
The Claims Administrator/Insurer complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/Insurer does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/ Insurer:

  • Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as:
  • Qualified sign language interpreters
  • Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)

  • Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as:
  • Qualified interpreters
  • Information written in other languages
  • If you need these services, contact the Civil Rights Coordinator.

    If you believe that the Claims Administrator/Insurer has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with: Civil Rights Coordinator, P.O. Box 22492, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Phone: 1-866-286-8295 , TTY: 711, Fax: 412-544-2475, email: CivilRightsCoordinator@highmarkhealth.org. You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Civil Rights Coordinator is available to help you.

    You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    200 Independence Avenue, SW
    Room 509F, HHH Building
    Washington, D.C. 20201
    1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)

    Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.