Preferred Viscosupplementation Products for Knee Osteoarthritis
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Defines preferred viscosupplementation products for treatment of knee osteoarthritis and prior authorization requirements for MedStar Family Choice District of Columbia providers effective for dates of service on or after May 1, 2026.
Coverage will be limited to specified preferred viscosupplementation products and all other products will be non-preferred unless medical necessity is demonstrated and prior authorization is approved.
Coverage criteria — viscosupplementation & related services
Covered when ALL of the following are met
Viscosupplementation injections are covered when ALL of the following are met:
Clinical criteria specifics are not included in the provided extract.
Prior Authorization Required
Services and products labeled "Prior Authorization Required" must have authorization prior to rendering as indicated below:
Repeated requirement across the document; failure to obtain authorization may result in denial.
Not a Covered Benefit
The following services are identified as Not a Covered Benefit:
Examples of cosmetic procedures include, but are not limited to: breast reduction (male or female); blepharoplasty; brow ptosis repair; rhinoplasty; sclerotherapy; septoplasty; skin tag removal; panniculectomy.
Prior Authorization Required
Prior authorization is required for the listed procedures and services:
Some services in the list are subject to the visit-threshold rule (see related nodes).
Not a Covered Benefit (Cosmetic Procedures)
Cosmetic procedures are not covered (examples include):
Document examples include breast reduction (male or female); blepharoplasty; brow ptosis repair; rhinoplasty; sclerotherapy; septoplasty; skin tag removal; panniculectomy.
Prior Authorization Required
Obtain prior authorization for the following examples of procedures and service categories:
List is illustrative from the document; prior authorization requirement is repeated throughout the source.
Prior authorization required
Prior authorization is required for the explicitly listed procedures:
Some listed services are subject to the visit-threshold rule described below.
Prior authorization required
The following services require prior authorization when provided (examples):
Document repeatedly lists these services as requiring prior authorization.
Visit-threshold prior authorization
Certain services require prior authorization only after a calendar-year visit threshold is exceeded:
The document repeats this visit-threshold rule but does not always specify which individual services the rule applies to beyond the phrasing.
Services requiring prior authorization
Prior authorization is required for the following enumerated procedures and services:
Document lists these items repeatedly as prior authorization required.
Visit-based prior authorization
Some services are subject to a visit-based prior authorization rule:
Applies to services explicitly followed by 'Prior Authorization Required after > THREE (3) visits per Calendar Year' in the source.
Prior authorization required
Administrative requirement: obtain prior authorization for the listed services before providing them:
Documentation should support that prior authorization was obtained when required.
Prior authorization after visit threshold
Prior authorization is required after a calendar-year visit threshold is exceeded for certain services:
The source indicates this rule applies to items explicitly noted with this phrasing; exact service-level mapping is not fully enumerated in the extract.
Services requiring prior authorization
Obtain prior authorization for the procedures listed in this section before performing them:
Document repeatedly indicates these services require prior authorization.
Prior authorization after visit threshold
Additional prior authorization rule tied to visit-count:
The document repeats this visit-count rule; the extract does not fully specify the complete list of services to which it applies.
All viscosupplementation products other than the three listed preferred products are considered non-preferred and will not be covered unless medical necessity is demonstrated and prior authorization is approved. The preferred products are Durolane (J7318), Gel-One (J7326), and Euflexxa (J7323). Requests for non-preferred viscosupplementation must include supporting documentation demonstrating medical necessity and obtain prior authorization before billing.
The document identifies a set of procedures categorized as cosmetic and lists examples that are designated Not a Covered Benefit. Examples provided include (but are not limited to) breast reduction (male or female), blepharoplasty, brow ptosis repair, rhinoplasty, sclerotherapy, septoplasty, skin tag removal, and panniculectomy.
Interventional spine procedures such as SI joint procedures and rhizotomies are explicitly noted in the document and are among the services that require prior authorization; in some repeated lists these procedures are also identified under Not a Covered Benefit in the excerpted text.
The policy excerpt lists erectile dysfunction procedures among services classified as Not a Covered Benefit in the provided sections. Cosmetic and elective procedures are repeatedly grouped with erectile dysfunction procedures in the document’s listings of non-covered services.
Cosmetic procedures are explicitly identified as Not a Covered Benefit with several illustrative examples repeated throughout the document. Representative examples include breast reduction, blepharoplasty, brow ptosis repair, rhinoplasty, sclerotherapy, septoplasty, skin tag removal, and panniculectomy.
Cosmetic procedures are repeatedly presented in the lists as services that are either Not a Covered Benefit or require prior authorization before being performed. The document consistently flags these elective cosmetic services for administrative review or exclusion.
The excerpt contains multiple instances of the labels Prior Authorization Required and No Prior Authorization Required, but the sample pages do not provide a complete enumeration tying each label to every specific procedure in this excerpt. Providers should follow the listed prior authorization instructions where a procedure is explicitly labeled.
Within the provided excerpt there are no explicit clinical exclusions beyond the enumerated lists of procedures; the document does not set out a separate, detailed exclusions section in the sampled content.
The excerpt does not include detailed medical necessity criteria text for most listed procedures; rather, it repeatedly states that listed items are Prior Authorization Required or Not a Covered Benefit. For viscosupplementation specifically, the document states that injections are considered medically necessary for knee osteoarthritis when clinical criteria are met, but the clinical acceptance criteria themselves are not detailed in this excerpt.
The document contains repeated labels of Prior Authorization Required and occasional No Prior Authorization Required markers across the lists, but the excerpt does not present a consolidated, fully enumerated list pairing every procedure with its authorization status in one place.
No explicit clinical exclusions beyond the enumerated lists are provided in the excerpt. The text primarily annotates many procedures with administrative statuses (e.g., Prior Authorization Required) rather than setting out separate clinical exclusion rules in the sampled pages.
The excerpt includes instances of the label No Prior Authorization Required, but the sampled content does not clearly attribute that status to particular services within the provided pages. Providers should consult the full policy or the payer’s prior authorization resources for definitive mappings.
Throughout the excerpt, cosmetic procedures are presented as not covered in the repeated lists and therefore are treated as not medically necessary in the context of this policy’s coverage statements.
Cosmetic procedures are repeatedly shown in the document as examples of services that are either Not a Covered Benefit or that require prior authorization. The repetition indicates a consistent administrative stance across the sections in the excerpt.
In the provided excerpt there are no explicit statements using the phrase 'not medically necessary' beyond the implication that cosmetic procedures are not covered; the document primarily uses the administrative labels Not a Covered Benefit and Prior Authorization Required.
Coding and visit-thresholds
| No codes listed |
| Blepharoplasty | |
| Capsulotomy | |
| Corneal relaxing incision for surgically induced astigmatism | |
| Corneal wedge resection for surgically induced astigmatism | |
| Destruction of lesion of lid margin | |
| Ectropion repair | |
| Entropion repair | |
| Eyelid lesion excision or reconstruction | |
| Implantation of intraocular devices | |
| Insertion of intraocular lens prosthesis (secondary implant) not associated with concurrent cataract removal |
| No codes listed |
What providers must do
Obtain prior authorization for listed procedures and services
Obtain prior authorization for procedures and services that are labeled 'Prior Authorization Required' in the notice before performing or billing the service.
- This requirement applies to office, homecare, or hospital-based services where indicated.
- Submit clinical documentation supporting the medical necessity of the requested service.
Prior authorization required for listed services (some post-threshold)
Providers must request prior authorization for the listed services; certain services require authorization only after the visit threshold is exceeded.
- Follow the visit-count rule where noted (see related callouts for threshold).
- Include clinical notes documenting indication and prior treatments when submitting the request.
Prior authorization required for numerous listed services; observe visit thresholds
Prior authorization is required for many of the procedures enumerated in the document; for some services authorization is required only after more than three (3) visits in a calendar year.
- When the > THREE (3) visits threshold applies, obtain prior authorization once the threshold is exceeded for office, homecare, or hospital-based services.
- Provide visit counts and dates as part of the authorization submission when relevant.
Obtain prior authorization for listed ophthalmologic procedures
Specific ophthalmologic procedures listed (for example: blepharoplasty, capsulotomy, corneal relaxing incision, corneal wedge resection) require prior authorization before service.
- Include procedure-specific clinical documentation (diagnosis, prior treatments, and rationale) in the authorization request.
- If the procedure occurs after >3 visits in the calendar year and the listing indicates the threshold, include visit history.
Prior authorization required for numerous listed procedures (cosmetic, interventional, ophthalmic)
Prior authorization is required for the many procedures listed throughout the notice (examples include blepharoplasty, capsulotomy, corneal procedures, epidural injections, facet blocks, rhizotomies, SI joint procedures, and select cosmetic surgeries).
- Submit a prior authorization request with supporting clinical documentation before performing these procedures.
- If the procedure is for a cosmetic indication noted as 'NOT A COVERED BENEFIT', expect non-coverage unless medical necessity is demonstrated and authorized.
Submit prior authorization for the listed procedures before performing service
Prior authorization must be requested for the procedures specifically enumerated (including interventional pain procedures, some eye surgeries, and various elective/cosmetic procedures) before service.
- Ensure authorization is obtained prior to service to avoid claim denial.
- Provide complete clinical rationale and prior treatment history with the request.
Obtain prior authorization when >3 visits per calendar year threshold is exceeded
Certain services require prior authorization only after more than three (3) visits per calendar year (office, homecare, or hospital-based); obtain authorization once the visit threshold is exceeded.
- Track and report the number of visits in the calendar year when submitting an authorization request.
- This visit-threshold rule applies to items explicitly indicated with '> THREE (3) visits' in the notice.
Prior authorization required for listed procedures (confirm visit-threshold applicability)
Providers must secure prior authorization for the listed procedures; some services are designated to require authorization only after the visit-count threshold is met.
- Confirm whether the specific service in question is subject to the >3 visits rule before submitting.
- Attach visit logs and prior treatment documentation when applicable.
Obtain prior authorization for the listed procedures (eye, interventional, elective)
Prior authorization is required for the listed procedures, including many eye surgeries and interventional procedures; obtain authorization before providing the service to prevent non-coverage.
- Examples include blepharoplasty, capsulotomy, corneal procedures, epidural injections, facet blocks, rhizotomies, and SI joint procedures.
- Submit procedure-specific clinical evidence and prior-treatment history with the authorization request.
Request prior authorization after >3 visits per year for applicable services
Prior authorization is required for certain services after more than THREE (3) visits per calendar year (office, homecare, or hospital-based); providers must monitor visit counts and request authorization when the threshold is exceeded.
- Report dates of service and total visit count in the calendar year with the authorization submission.
- This applies where the listing explicitly states 'Prior Authorization Required after > THREE (3) visits per Calendar Year'.
Prior authorization required for interventional and listed services; document approval
Obtain prior authorization for specified procedures and services listed in the notice; failure to obtain authorization may result in denial of coverage or payment.
- Examples include epidural injections (cervical and lumbar), facet blocks, rhizotomies, SI joint procedures, and numerous eye procedures.
- Always document authorization approval in the patient record before performing the service.
Obtain prior authorization for listed procedures; check visit-based exceptions
Prior authorization is required for the listed procedures and services; some items require authorization only after more than three visits in a calendar year—confirm applicability when planning treatment.
- Include clinical notes, prior therapies, and visit history with authorization requests.
- Do not perform or submit claims for listed services without first obtaining authorization when required.
Prior authorization required for listed procedures (general)
Prior authorization is required generally for the listed procedures; when authorization is required post-threshold, obtain approval after the visit-count is exceeded to ensure coverage.
- Document the reason for the procedure and prior conservative treatments in the authorization submission.
- If authorization is not obtained when required, the claim may be denied.
Obtain prior authorization for enumerated services (pain interventions, eye surgeries, elective procedures)
Prior authorization is required for listed services including epidural injections, facet blocks, rhizotomies, SI joint procedures, and various eye surgeries; submit requests prior to service to avoid denial.
- Include operative/procedural indications and prior treatment attempts with the authorization request.
- Cosmetic procedures noted as 'NOT A COVERED BENEFIT' will not be covered unless medical necessity is demonstrated and authorized.
Prior authorization required after >3 visits per calendar year for applicable services
Some services are subject to a prior authorization threshold: authorization is required after more than three (3) visits per calendar year for office, homecare, or hospital-based services; obtain authorization when the threshold is exceeded.
- Provide date-stamped visit counts and clinical progress notes with the authorization request.
- Confirm whether the specific service is flagged with the >3 visits rule before proceeding.
Secure prior authorization for specified procedures and document approval
Prior authorization must be obtained for the specified procedures and services; obtain authorization before providing or billing these items to reduce risk of denial.
- Document authorization approval in the medical record prior to service.
- Submit full clinical documentation with the authorization request.
Obtain prior authorization for listed services; observe >3 visits rule where noted
Prior authorization is required for the listed services; some services require authorization only after more than three (3) visits per calendar year—obtain authorization accordingly.
- Track visit counts and supply them in the authorization submission when the >3 visits rule applies.
- Failure to obtain required prior authorization may result in denial of coverage.
Obtain prior authorization for numerous eye, interventional, and surgical procedures
Prior authorization is required for numerous eye procedures and surgeries (examples: blepharoplasty, capsulotomy, corneal procedures, eyelid repairs, implantation of intraocular devices, keratoplasty, orbital prosthesis) and for procedures such as epidural injections, facet blocks, rhizotomies, SI joint procedures, erectile dysfunction procedures, sclerotherapy, septoplasty, skin tag removal, and panniculectomy.
- Submit procedure-specific clinical documentation and prior-treatment history with the authorization request.
- If a non-preferred product or cosmetic indication is involved, include medical necessity documentation.
Request prior authorization after > THREE (3) visits per calendar year for applicable services
When applicable, obtain prior authorization after more than THREE (3) visits per calendar year for services provided in office, homecare, or hospital settings; track visits and submit counts with the request.
- Provide supporting documentation of visit dates and services rendered when requesting authorization.
- Authorization should be obtained before additional visits beyond the threshold are billed when the rule applies.
Provide medical necessity documentation for non-preferred viscosupplementation products
Requests for non-preferred viscosupplementation products must include supporting documentation demonstrating medical necessity; non-preferred products are not covered unless medical necessity is demonstrated and prior authorization is approved.
Include clinical documentation to support prior authorization requests
When submitting prior authorization requests, include clinical documentation that demonstrates medical necessity and supports the requested service or product.
- For procedures labeled 'Prior Authorization Required', provide diagnosis, prior conservative treatments, and procedure rationale.
- If visit thresholds apply, include visit dates and counts in the request.
Submit prior authorization requests for services labeled 'Prior Authorization Required'
Providers must submit a prior authorization request for any service explicitly labeled 'Prior Authorization Required' (office, homecare, or hospital-based) before rendering or billing the service.
- Submit authorization requests through the payer's designated prior authorization process and include all supporting documentation.
- Do not perform or bill for the service until authorization is received when required.
Provide procedure-specific documentation to support prior authorization
Document and attach clinical evidence supporting prior authorization requests for the specific procedures named in the notice (for example, blepharoplasty, capsulotomy, corneal relaxing incision).
- Include diagnosis, prior treatments, imaging, and specialist consultation notes as applicable.
- For non-preferred products or excluded cosmetic indications, clearly document the medical necessity rationale.
Ensure prior authorization and documentation for preferred products and listed procedures
Prior authorization is required for the listed preferred viscosupplementation products and for many cosmetic and procedural services; ensure authorization is obtained before service provision.
- When requesting authorization for a preferred product, include the HCPCS code and supporting clinical information.
- If requesting a non-preferred product, include medical necessity documentation as described.
Attach documented prior authorization and visit history for post-threshold services
Documented prior authorization is required for services after more than three visits per calendar year and for the other procedures listed as 'Prior Authorization Required'; include visit history with the request.
- Provide dates of service and total visit counts when the > THREE (3) visits rule applies.
- Include progress notes and prior treatment responses in the authorization submission.
Submit prior authorization requests for explicitly listed procedures before performing service
Providers must submit prior authorization requests for the procedures and services explicitly listed (examples include blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, epidural injections, facet blocks, SI joint procedures, panniculectomy) prior to performing the service.
- Use the payer's authorization form or portal and include all required clinical attachments.
- Retain authorization approval reference in the patient chart.
Obtain prior authorization documentation prior to service for listed procedures
Prior authorization documentation for the listed procedures must be obtained before services are provided; do not render or bill listed services without authorization when required.
- Document authorization approval number and date in the medical record prior to service.
- If authorization is retrospective or missing, be aware claims may be denied.
Retain prior authorization approval and supporting documentation in the chart
Keep documentation that verifies prior authorization was obtained when required (authorization number, approval date, and supporting clinical records) in the patient record.
- Maintain authorization reference numbers in the chart to support claims submission.
- Ensure documentation includes the clinical rationale and any visit-count information if applicable.
Obtain prior authorization for listed procedures; document indications
Providers are expected to obtain prior authorization for the listed procedures and services (examples: blepharoplasty, capsulotomy, various ophthalmic and interventional procedures) before delivering care.
- Include prior treatment history and clinical indications with the authorization request.
- If the service is for a cosmetic indication listed as 'NOT A COVERED BENEFIT', document medical necessity if seeking coverage.
Submit prior authorization for enumerated interventional and surgical services before performing them
Providers must obtain prior authorization for the procedures and services enumerated (examples include epidural injections, facet blocks, rhizotomies, SI joint procedures, various eye surgeries); submit requests before performing service.
- Attach clinical notes, imaging, and prior therapy documentation to the authorization request.
- If the requested service exceeds visit thresholds, include visit counts.
Submit prior authorization requests for explicitly listed services before performing or billing
Providers must submit prior authorization requests for the procedures and services explicitly listed as 'Prior Authorization Required' prior to performing the service or submitting claims.
- Use the payer's designated authorization process and include required supporting documentation.
- Do not assume payment without prior authorization when the service is listed as requiring it.
Document authorization for preferred products and post-threshold services
Prior authorization documentation is required for the listed preferred products and procedures; when the visit threshold (> THREE (3) visits per calendar year) is exceeded, prior authorization must be obtained for those services.
- Include HCPCS code, clinical rationale, and visit counts (if applicable) with the authorization request.
- If requesting a non-preferred product, include medical necessity justification.
Request prior authorization before performing procedures labeled 'Prior Authorization Required'
Providers must request prior authorization for procedures explicitly labeled 'Prior Authorization Required' before performing the service; obtain approval to ensure coverage.
- Attach procedure-specific clinical documentation and prior-treatment notes with the request.
- Record authorization details in the medical record upon approval.
Obtain prior authorization for explicitly listed procedures before performing service or billing
Obtain prior authorization for the procedures and services explicitly listed in this section before performing the service or submitting a claim; failure to obtain authorization may result in denial.
- Ensure authorization approval is documented in the chart prior to service.
- If service is non-preferred, include medical necessity documentation with the request.
Non-preferred viscosupplementation products require medical necessity documentation and prior authorization
Requests for non-preferred viscosupplementation products will be considered non-preferred and not covered unless medical necessity is demonstrated and prior authorization is approved.
- When requesting non-preferred product coverage, include documentation that justifies why preferred products are not appropriate.
- Examples of supporting documentation: contraindications to preferred products, prior adverse reactions, or documented treatment failure.
Risk of denial if prior authorization is not obtained
Failure to obtain required prior authorization for listed procedures may result in denial or non-coverage; ensure authorization is obtained before the service when listed as required.
- Do not perform or submit claims for services labeled 'Prior Authorization Required' without prior approval.
- If authorization was not obtained, expect potential claim denial or non-payment.
Failure to obtain prior authorization may lead to denial
Not obtaining prior authorization for any service labeled 'Prior Authorization Required' may result in claim denial; verify authorization status before rendering services.
- Check authorization status via the payer's portal or Provider Customer Service before performing the service.
- Retain approval documentation in the patient record to support billing.
Missing prior authorization risks denial for many listed services
Failure to obtain required prior authorization for the many services identified as 'Prior Authorization Required' (and those that become required after >3 visits) creates a risk of denial or non-coverage.
- Verify whether the service is listed as requiring prior authorization and whether the visit-threshold applies before scheduling or performing the service.
- Include authorization evidence with claims to reduce denial risk.
Risk of denial for lack of prior authorization across listed procedure types
Failure to obtain prior authorization for procedures listed (including cosmetic, interventional pain, and ophthalmologic procedures) may trigger claim denial; obtain authorization before service.
- If a procedure is performed without required authorization, the claim may be denied even if the service was clinically appropriate.
- When in doubt, contact Provider Customer Service to confirm authorization requirements.
Failure to obtain prior authorization for preferred products or procedures may result in denial
If prior authorization is required for the preferred products or listed procedures and is not obtained, coverage or payment may be denied; obtain authorization in advance.
- Prior authorization is required for preferred viscosupplementation products and many procedures—do not assume payment without approval.
- Maintain documentation of authorization approval in the medical record.
Prior authorization required — failure to obtain may result in denial
Not obtaining prior authorization for the listed preferred products or procedures may result in denial; confirm and document authorization prior to service.
- If authorization is denied, do not proceed with the service expecting payment.
- For denied requests, follow payer appeal or exception processes as applicable.
Services submitted without required prior authorization risk denial
Failure to obtain prior authorization when required may result in coverage denial for the services enumerated (including many eye surgeries and interventional procedures); obtain authorization first.
- Document authorization approval numbers and keep supporting clinical records available for claim review.
- If authorization was not obtained, anticipate claim denial or non-payment.
Failure to obtain prior authorization may cause denial for preferred products and listed procedures
Prior authorization is required for the listed preferred products and procedures; failure to obtain prior authorization may result in denial of coverage or payment.
- Confirm authorization requirements and obtain approvals before performing services.
- If a product is non-preferred, include documented medical necessity with the authorization request.
Prior authorization required — risk of denial if not obtained
Failure to obtain prior authorization where required for listed procedures and services may result in denial of coverage or payment; obtain authorization in advance and document it.
- Keep authorization details in the patient chart to support claims submission.
- If authorization is required after a visit threshold, obtain it when the threshold is exceeded to avoid denial.
Background
Background: Viscosupplementation injections are intra‑articular hyaluronic acid–based injections used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. The policy states these injections are considered medically necessary for knee osteoarthritis when clinical criteria are met and that coverage will be limited to the listed preferred products effective for dates of service on or after May 1, 2026.
Definitions and key terms
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