HIGHMARK COMMERCIAL MEDICAL POLICY - PENNSYLVANIA

 
 

Medical Policy:
S-112-050
Topic:
Co-Surgery
Section:
Surgery
Effective Date:
July 1, 2023
Issued Date:
July 1, 2023
Last Revision Date:
June 2023
Annual Review:
December 2022
 
 

Co-surgeons are defined as two (2) or more surgeons, working together simultaneously as primary surgeons, to perform distinct parts of an operative procedure. Co-surgery is always performed during the same operative session.

Policy Position

The following situations are considered co-surgery:

  • When two (2) surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct part(s) of a procedure, each surgeon should report their distinct operative work by adding modifier 62 to the procedure code and any associated add-on code(s) for that procedure as long as both surgeons continue to work together as primary surgeons. Each surgeon should report the co-surgery once using the same procedure code.
  • Co-surgery is eligible per procedure, not per operative session. This means that the performance of co-surgery at one (1) procedure during an operative session for multiple procedures does not qualify all procedures performed during that session as co-surgery. Only those procedures in which the surgeon actually performs a portion of the procedure will be considered co-surgery. If additional procedure(s) (including add-on procedure(s) are performed during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported with modifier 62. Multiple surgery guidelines are also applied to these procedures.

The procedure codes listed on the Table below are based on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and are eligible co-surgery procedures when reported with the primary modifier 62 - two (2) surgeons.

Co-Surgeon Indicators

0

Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.

1

Co-surgeons could be paid, though supporting documentation is required to establish the medical necessity of two surgeons for the procedure.

2

Co-surgeons permitted and no documentation required if the two-specialty requirement is met.

9

Concept does not apply.

 

Per Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS)

Procedure Codes Eligible for Co-Surgery Payment with supporting documentation to establish medical necessity with Payment Indicator “1” *

*Procedure codes listed are updated on a quarterly basis.

G0186

G0276

G0341

G0342

G0343

0494T

0668T

0669T

0670T

0735T

0744T

0775T

0809T

0810T

12007

12037

12047

12057

15116

15121

15131

15136

15156

15157

15277

15278

15730

15733

15734

15736

15738

15770

15778

15830

15832

15841

15842

15847

15922

15935

15936

15937

15946

15951

15952

15953

15956

15958

15999

17999

19125

19126

19302

19303

19305

19306

19307

19316

19318

19340

19342

19357

19361

19364

19367

19368

19369

19499

20150

20650

20692

20696

20697

20802

20805

20808

20816

20822

20824

20827

20838

20900

20902

20920

20922

20924

20931

20932

20933

20934

20937

20938

20955

20956

20957

20962

20969

20970

20973

20975

20999

21034

21044

21045

21046

21047

21048

21049

21060

21089

21120

21123

21127

21138

21139

21141

21142

21143

21146

21154

21159

21172

21180

21182

21183

21193

21196

21198

21199

21206

21215

21240

21242

21243

21244

21247

21255

21256

21260

21261

21263

21267

21268

21270

21275

21299

21339

21343

21346

21347

21365

21385

21390

21395

21406

21407

21422

21433

21454

21461

21462

21465

21470

21490

21499

21557

21558

21600

21601

21602

21603

21615

21620

21630

21632

21685

21725

21740

21742

21743

21750

21825

21899

21935

21936

22100

22101

22102

22103

22110

22112

22114

22116

22206

22207

22208

22210

22212

22214

22216

22220

22222

22224

22226

22325

22326

22327

22328

22800

22802

22804

22808

22810

22812

22830

22840

22849

22850

22852

22855

22899

22900

22901

22902

22903

22904

22905

22999

23000

23040

23044

23077

23078

23100

23101

23105

23106

23107

23120

23125

23130

23145

23150

23155

23174

23180

23184

23190

23195

23200

23210

23220

23334

23335

23395

23397

23400

23405

23410

23412

23415

23420

23430

23440

23450

23455

23460

23462

23465

23466

23470

23472

23473

23474

23480

23485

23491

23515

23550

23552

23585

23615

23630

23660

23670

23680

23800

23802

23920

23929

24000

24077

24079

24100

24102

24110

24115

24125

24130

24145

24147

24149

24150

24152

24155

24160

24164

24301

24320

24340

24341

24342

24343

24344

24345

24346

24360

24361

24365

24366

24400

24410

24420

24430

24435

24498

24515

24545

24575

24579

24586

24587

24615

24635

24665

24666

24685

24800

24900

24920

24999

25105

25107

25116

25119

25120

25135

25136

25150

25151

25170

25210

25215

25230

25240

25274

25275

25280

25310

25312

25360

25375

25390

25391

25394

25400

25405

25415

25420

25425

25426

25431

25440

25441

25442

25443

25445

25446

25447

25449

25515

25545

25575

25652

25670

25695

25800

25805

25810

25820

25825

25830

25999

26185

26352

26390

26392

26477

26483

26485

26492

26494

26498

26499

26518

26525

26531

26540

26541

26553

26554

26556

26561

26665

26685

26820

26841

26842

26843

26844

26852

26862

26989

27000

27001

27003

27005

27006

27025

27030

27033

27035

27036

27045

27048

27049

27050

27052

27054

27059

27062

27065

27066

27070

27071

27075

27076

27077

27078

27080

27087

27090

27091

27100

27110

27111

27120

27122

27125

27130

27132

27134

27137

27138

27140

27146

27147

27151

27156

27161

27165

27170

27176

27177

27178

27185

27187

27235

27236

27244

27248

27253

27254

27258

27267

27268

27269

27279

27280

27282

27284

27286

27290

27295

27299

27303

27305

27307

27310

27326

27329

27330

27331

27332

27333

27334

27335

27345

27347

27350

27355

27356

27357

27360

27364

27365

27380

27381

27385

27386

27391

27392

27393

27395

27396

27400

27403

27405

27407

27409

27412

27415

27418

27420

27422

27424

27425

27427

27428

27429

27430

27435

27437

27438

27440

27441

27442

27443

27445

27446

27447

27448

27450

27454

27455

27457

27465

27466

27468

27470

27472

27475

27477

27486

27487

27488

27495

27506

27514

27519

27524

27536

27540

27556

27557

27566

27580

27590

27591

27592

27596

27598

27599

27600

27602

27606

27612

27615

27616

27620

27625

27635

27637

27638

27640

27641

27645

27646

27650

27652

27654

27658

27659

27665

27675

27680

27681

27685

27686

27687

27690

27691

27692

27695

27696

27698

27700

27702

27704

27705

27707

27709

27712

27715

27720

27722

27724

27725

27726

27727

27730

27742

27745

27756

27758

27766

27784

27792

27814

27822

27823

27832

27846

27848

27870

27871

27880

27881

27882

27886

27888

27889

27899

28020

28035

28046

28047

28050

28052

28062

28086

28100

28104

28106

28110

28111

28112

28114

28118

28119

28120

28122

28130

28140

28173

28175

28200

28202

28208

28225

28238

28250

28260

28262

28285

28289

28291

28292

28295

28296

28297

28298

28299

28300

28302

28304

28305

28306

28308

28310

28312

28315

28320

28322

28344

28415

28420

28445

28446

28485

28555

28585

28615

28645

28705

28715

28725

28730

28735

28737

28740

28755

28760

28800

28890

28899

29799

29804

29805

29806

29807

29819

29820

29821

29823

29824

29825

29826

29827

29828

29834

29835

29836

29837

29843

29845

29860

29861

29862

29863

29870

29873

29880

29884

29885

29887

29888

29889

29893

29894

29895

29898

29899

29914

29915

29916

29999

30118

30150

30160

30999

31040

31075

31081

31084

31085

31087

31205

31225

31230

31299

31300

31360

31365

31367

31368

31370

31375

31380

31382

31390

31395

31420

31551

31552

31553

31554

31580

31584

31587

31590

31591

31592

31599

31601

31611

31750

31755

31760

31766

31770

31780

31781

31785

31786

31805

31899

32035

32036

32096

32097

32098

32100

32110

32120

32124

32140

32141

32150

32151

32160

32200

32215

32220

32225

32310

32320

32440

32442

32445

32480

32482

32484

32486

32488

32491

32501

32503

32504

32505

32506

32507

32540

32650

32651

32652

32653

32654

32655

32656

32658

32659

32661

32662

32663

32664

32665

32666

32667

32668

32669

32670

32671

32672

32673

32674

32701

32800

32815

32820

32851

32852

32853

32854

32855

32856

32900

32905

32906

32940

32999

33020

33025

33030

33031

33050

33120

33130

33141

33243

33244

33249

33250

33251

33254

33255

33256

33261

33265

33266

33267

33269

33300

33305

33310

33315

33320

33321

33322

33330

33335

33390

33391

33404

33405

33406

33410

33412

33413

33414

33415

33416

33417

33418

33419

33420

33422

33425

33426

33427

33430

33440

33460

33463

33464

33465

33468

33471

33474

33475

33476

33477

33478

33496

33500

33502

33503

33504

33505

33506

33507

33508

33509

33542

33545

33548

33600

33602

33606

33608

33610

33611

33612

33615

33617

33619

33620

33621

33622

33641

33645

33647

33660

33665

33670

33675

33676

33677

33681

33684

33688

33690

33692

33694

33697

33702

33720

33724

33726

33730

33732

33736

33737

33750

33755

33762

33764

33766

33767

33770

33771

33774

33776

33778

33779

33780

33782

33783

33786

33788

33802

33803

33813

33814

33822

33824

33840

33845

33851

33853

33858

33859

33863

33864

33871

33910

33915

33916

33917

33920

33922

33924

33925

33926

33933

33935

33944

33945

33955

33956

33963

33964

33970

33973

33985

33986

33987

33988

33989

33999

34001

34051

34101

34111

34151

34201

34203

34401

34421

34451

34471

34501

34510

34520

34530

35001

35002

35005

35011

35013

35021

35022

35045

35081

35082

35091

35092

35102

35103

35111

35112

35122

35131

35132

35141

35142

35151

35152

35180

35182

35184

35188

35189

35190

35201

35206

35207

35211

35216

35221

35226

35231

35236

35241

35246

35251

35256

35261

35266

35271

35276

35281

35286

35301

35302

35303

35304

35305

35306

35311

35321

35331

35341

35351

35355

35361

35363

35371

35372

35390

35400

35500

35501

35506

35508

35509

35510

35511

35512

35515

35516

35518

35521

35522

35523

35525

35526

35531

35533

35535

35536

35537

35538

35539

35540

35556

35558

35560

35563

35565

35566

35570

35571

35583

35585

35587

35600

35601

35606

35612

35616

35621

35623

35626

35631

35632

35633

35634

35636

35637

35638

35642

35645

35646

35647

35650

35654

35656

35661

35663

35665

35666

35671

35681

35682

35683

35685

35686

35691

35693

35694

35695

35700

35701

35702

35703

35800

35820

35840

35860

35870

35875

35876

35879

35881

35883

35884

35901

35903

35905

35907

36299

36818

36819

36820

36821

36825

36830

36831

36832

36833

36836

36837

36838

36904

36905

36906

37140

37160

37180

37181

37252

37253

37500

37501

37565

37600

37605

37607

37615

37616

37617

37618

37650

37660

37718

37722

37735

37760

37761

37765

37766

37780

37788

37799

38100

38101

38102

38115

38120

38129

38308

38380

38381

38382

38530

38542

38555

38562

38564

38589

38700

38720

38724

38740

38745

38746

38747

38760

38765

38770

38780

38900

38999

39000

39010

39200

39220

39499

39501

39503

39540

39541

39545

39560

39561

39599

40799

40899

41019

41120

41130

41135

41140

41145

41150

41153

41155

41599

41899

42120

42299

42410

42415

42420

42425

42426

42440

42510

42699

42725

42815

42844

42845

42890

42892

42894

42950

42999

43020

43030

43045

43100

43101

43107

43108

43116

43122

43123

43124

43130

43135

43279

43280

43281

43282

43283

43284

43285

43286

43289

43300

43305

43310

43312

43313

43314

43320

43325

43327

43328

43330

43331

43332

43333

43334

43335

43336

43337

43338

43340

43341

43351

43352

43360

43361

43400

43405

43410

43415

43420

43425

43496

43499

43500

43501

43502

43510

43520

43605

43610

43611

43620

43621

43622

43631

43632

43633

43634

43635

43640

43641

43644

43645

43647

43648

43651

43652

43653

43659

43770

43771

43772

43773

43774

43775

43800

43810

43820

43825

43830

43831

43832

43840

43845

43846

43847

43848

43860

43865

43870

43880

43881

43882

43886

43887

43888

43999

44005

44010

44015

44020

44021

44025

44050

44055

44110

44111

44120

44121

44125

44126

44127

44128

44130

44137

44139

44140

44141

44143

44144

44145

44146

44147

44150

44151

44155

44156

44157

44158

44160

44180

44186

44187

44188

44202

44203

44204

44205

44206

44207

44208

44210

44211

44212

44213

44227

44238

44300

44310

44314

44316

44320

44322

44340

44345

44346

44602

44603

44604

44605

44615

44620

44625

44626

44640

44650

44660

44661

44680

44700

44701

44715

44720

44721

44799

44800

44820

44850

44899

44900

44950

44955

44960

44979

45108

45110

45111

45112

45113

45114

45116

45119

45120

45121

45123

45126

45130

45135

45136

45160

45171

45172

45190

45395

45397

45399

45400

45402

45499

45540

45541

45550

45560

45562

45563

45800

45805

45820

45825

45990

45999

46705

46710

46712

46716

46730

46735

46740

46742

46744

46746

46748

46750

46751

46760

46761

46999

47001

47010

47015

47100

47120

47122

47125

47130

47135

47140

47141

47142

47143

47144

47145

47146

47147

47300

47350

47360

47361

47362

47370

47371

47379

47380

47381

47399

47400

47420

47425

47460

47480

47550

47552

47554

47562

47563

47564

47570

47579

47600

47605

47610

47612

47620

47700

47711

47712

47715

47720

47721

47740

47741

47760

47765

47780

47785

47800

47801

47802

47900

47999

48000

48001

48020

48100

48105

48120

48140

48145

48146

48148

48150

48152

48153

48154

48155

48500

48510

48520

48540

48545

48547

48548

48551

48552

48999

49000

49002

49010

49040

49060

49062

49203

49204

49205

49215

49250

49255

49326

49327

49329

49402

49412

49425

49435

49436

49491

49492

49495

49496

49500

49501

49505

49507

49520

49521

49525

49540

49550

49553

49555

49557

49591

49592

49593

49594

49595

49596

49600

49605

49606

49610

49611

49613

49614

49615

49616

49617

49618

49621

49622

49623

49650

49651

49659

49900

49904

49906

49999

50010

50020

50040

50045

50060

50070

50075

50081

50100

50120

50125

50130

50135

50205

50220

50225

50234

50236

50240

50250

50280

50290

50320

50323

50325

50327

50328

50329

50340

50370

50380

50400

50405

50500

50520

50525

50540

50541

50542

50543

50544

50545

50546

50547

50548

50549

50562

50600

50605

50610

50620

50630

50650

50660

50700

50715

50722

50725

50740

50760

50770

50780

50785

50800

50810

50815

50820

50825

50830

50840

50845

50860

50900

50920

50930

50940

50945

50947

50948

50949

51020

51040

51050

51060

51080

51500

51520

51525

51530

51535

51550

51555

51565

51570

51575

51580

51585

51590

51595

51596

51597

51800

51820

51840

51841

51845

51860

51865

51880

51900

51920

51925

51940

51960

51980

51990

51992

51999

53085

53210

53215

53230

53235

53400

53405

53410

53415

53420

53425

53430

53431

53440

53444

53445

53446

53447

53448

53449

53500

53510

53515

53899

54111

54112

54120

54125

54130

54300

54308

54312

54316

54318

54324

54326

54328

54332

54336

54340

54344

54348

54352

54360

54380

54385

54390

54400

54401

54405

54406

54408

54410

54411

54415

54416

54417

54437

54438

54440

54512

54522

54530

54560

54680

54690

54699

55150

55400

55520

55530

55535

55540

55550

55559

55650

55705

55706

55720

55725

55801

55810

55812

55815

55821

55831

55840

55842

55845

55860

55862

55865

55866

55867

55870

55874

55876

55899

56620

56625

56630

56640

56700

56800

56805

57106

57107

57109

57110

57111

57120

57130

57200

57210

57220

57230

57240

57250

57260

57265

57267

57268

57270

57280

57282

57283

57287

57288

57289

57292

57295

57296

57300

57305

57307

57308

57310

57311

57320

57330

57335

57425

57426

57530

57531

57540

57545

57550

57555

57556

58140

58145

58146

58150

58152

58180

58200

58210

58240

58260

58267

58270

58275

58280

58285

58290

58294

58400

58410

58520

58578

58579

58600

58679

58700

58720

58740

58750

58760

58805

58822

58825

58900

58920

58925

58940

58943

58950

58951

58952

58953

58954

58956

58957

58958

58960

58974

58976

58999

59100

59120

59121

59514

59525

59866

59898

59899

60200

60210

60212

60220

60225

60240

60252

60254

60260

60270

60271

60280

60281

60500

60502

60505

60512

60520

60521

60522

60540

60545

60600

60605

60650

60699

61150

61154

61156

61215

61250

61304

61305

61312

61313

61314

61315

61320

61321

61322

61323

61330

61333

61340

61343

61345

61450

61458

61500

61501

61510

61512

61514

61516

61518

61519

61521

61522

61524

61533

61534

61535

61536

61537

61538

61539

61540

61541

61543

61545

61546

61550

61552

61556

61557

61558

61559

61563

61564

61566

61567

61570

61571

61575

61576

61580

61582

61583

61584

61585

61586

61590

61591

61592

61595

61596

61597

61598

61600

61601

61605

61606

61607

61608

61611

61613

61615

61616

61618

61619

61630

61635

61680

61682

61684

61686

61690

61692

61697

61698

61700

61702

61703

61705

61711

61735

61750

61751

61770

61863

61864

61867

61868

61880

62005

62010

62100

62115

62117

62120

62121

62140

62141

62143

62145

62146

62147

62161

62162

62164

62165

62190

62192

62200

62220

62223

62230

62258

62350

62360

62361

62362

63055

63056

63057

63064

63066

63081

63082

63101

63102

63103

63170

63172

63173

63185

63190

63191

63197

63250

63251

63252

63265

63266

63267

63268

63270

63271

63272

63275

63276

63277

63278

63280

63281

63282

63283

63285

63286

63287

63290

63300

63301

63302

63303

63304

63305

63306

63307

63308

63655

63661

63662

63663

63664

63685

63700

63702

63704

63706

63707

63709

63710

63740

63741

63744

64569

64570

64583

64584

64590

64704

64708

64712

64713

64714

64716

64722

64746

64755

64760

64763

64772

64782

64790

64792

64802

64804

64809

64818

64856

64857

64858

64859

64861

64864

64865

64866

64868

64872

64874

64876

64885

64886

64892

64895

64896

64897

64898

64901

64902

64905

64907

64910

64911

64912

64913

64999

65091

65093

65103

65105

65110

65112

65114

65125

65130

65175

65265

65273

65290

65710

65730

65750

65755

65756

65780

65781

65782

65785

65850

65855

65865

65870

65875

65920

65930

66150

66160

66170

66172

66174

66175

66225

66500

66680

66852

66920

66940

66985

66986

66987

66988

66999

67005

67010

67015

67025

67027

67030

67036

67039

67040

67041

67042

67043

67107

67108

67113

67120

67121

67250

67255

67299

67312

67318

67331

67332

67334

67335

67343

67399

67400

67412

67414

67420

67440

67445

67450

67550

67570

67599

67902

67903

67904

67950

67971

67973

67974

67999

68320

68325

68335

68362

68399

68525

68540

68720

68745

68750

68899

69150

69155

69399

69535

69554

69720

69799

69915

69949

69950

69955

69960

69970

69979

93590

93592

93998

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS)

Procedure Codes Eligible for Co-Surgery Payment with Payment Indicator “2” *

*Procedure codes listed are updated on a quarterly basis.

0483T

0484T

0795T

0796T

0797T

0801T

0802T

0803T

0805T

0806T

15756

15757

15758

21344

21348

21366

21408

21423

21436

22318

22319

22532

22533

22534

22548

22551

22552

22554

22556

22558

22585

22586

22590

22595

22600

22610

22612

22614

22630

22632

22633

22634

22818

22819

22842

22843

22844

22845

22846

22847

22848

22853

22854

22856

22857

22858

22859

22860

22861

22862

22864

22865

22868

22870

23616

24006

24516

24546

25525

25526

25574

27198

27226

27227

27228

27245

27497

27498

27499

27507

27511

27513

27535

27558

27759

27826

27827

27828

27829

28531

28636

28666

29850

29851

29855

29856

30460

30462

33206

33207

33208

33214

33236

33237

33238

33274

33340

33361

33362

33363

33364

33365

33366

33501

33768

33800

33875

33877

33880

33881

33883

33884

33886

33889

33891

34701

34702

34703

34704

34705

34706

34707

34708

34709

34710

34711

34712

34713

34714

34715

34716

34717

34718

34808

34812

34813

34820

34830

34831

34832

34833

34834

34841

34842

34843

34844

34845

34846

34847

34848

35697

37184

37185

37186

37187

37188

38570

38571

38572

38573

43112

43113

43117

43118

43121

43231

43232

43246

43287

43288

43843

44970

48554

48556

49321

49322

49323

49324

49325

49905

50230

50360

50365

50727

50728

50782

50783

56405

56605

56606

56631

56632

56633

56634

56637

56810

57155

57284

57285

57423

58262

58263

58291

58292

58345

58353

58356

58541

58542

58543

58544

58545

58546

58548

58550

58552

58553

58554

58555

58558

58559

58560

58561

58562

58563

58565

58570

58571

58572

58573

58575

58660

58661

58662

58670

58671

58674

61460

61520

61526

61530

61531

61548

61581

61760

62351

62380

63001

63003

63005

63011

63012

63015

63016

63017

63020

63030

63035

63040

63042

63043

63044

63045

63046

63047

63048

63050

63051

63052

63053

63075

63076

63077

63078

63085

63086

63087

63088

63090

63091

63295

93591

G0412

G0413

G0414

G0415

 

 

 

 

 




Related Policies

Refer to Medical Policy S-16 Assistant Surgery Eligibility Criteria for additional information.

Refer to Medical Policy S-12 Team Surgery for additional information.

Refer to Highmark Reimbursement Policy Bulletin RP-002 Co-Surgery for additional information on reimbursement coverage.


Place of Service: Inpatient/Outpatient

Co-surgery is typically an outpatient procedure which is only eligible for coverage as an inpatient procedure in special circumstances, including, but not limited to, the presence of a co-morbid condition that would require monitoring in a more controlled environment such as the inpatient setting.


The policy position applies to all commercial lines of business



Links






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.

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.

This information is issued by Highmark Blue Shield on behalf of its affiliated Blue companies, which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.  Highmark Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield and certain of its affiliated Blue companies serve Blue Shield members in the 21 counties of central Pennsylvania. As a partner in joint operating agreements, Highmark Blue Shield also provides services in conjunction with a separate health plan in southeastern Pennsylvania.  Highmark Inc. or certain of its affiliated Blue companies also serve Blue Cross Blue Shield members in 29 counties in western Pennsylvania, 13 counties in northeastern Pennsylvania, the state of West Virginia plus Washington County, Ohio, the state of Delaware[ and [8] counties in western New York and Blue Shield members in [13] counties in northeastern New York].  All references to Highmark in this document are references to Highmark Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield and/or to one or more of its affiliated Blue companies.





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.