Diabetes Mellitus Testing (A1c, FPG, OGTT) - Coverage and Payment
Customize your policy alerts
Sign up for Molina Healthcare Policy G2006 alerts
Get alerted when Policy G2006 changes without checking for updates manually.
Monitor payer policy activity
Defines Molina Healthcare's coverage criteria and limitations for diagnostic and monitoring tests for diabetes mellitus (A1c, fasting plasma glucose, and oral glucose tolerance testing) across patient populations and clinical scenarios.
Addition of CC2e: 'e) Quarterly for individuals who are pregnant.'
Addition of CC5i: 'i) For individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).'
Removed Note 1 which previously stated that according to the ADA, plasma glucose measurement alone can diagnose diabetes in a patient with classic symptoms.
Updated background, guidelines, and evidence-based scientific references after literature review.
Coverage Criteria for Diabetes Testing
Coverage decision nodes
Tests that meet or do not meet coverage criteria as specified by clinical situation and population.
ALL of the following
- a) Upon initial diagnosis to establish a baseline value and to determine treatment goals.
- b) Twice a year (every 6 months) in individuals who are meeting treatment goals and who appear to have stable glycemic control based on daily glucose monitoring.
- c) Quarterly in individuals who are not meeting treatment goals for glycemic control.
- d) Quarterly in individuals whose pharmacologic therapy has changed.
- e) Quarterly for individuals who are pregnant.
- f) Every 60 days in individuals with poorly controlled diabetes.
ALL of the following
- Risk factors include: overweight or obesity; first-degree relatives with diabetes; history of cardiovascular disease; hypertension; hypercholesterolemia; metabolic syndrome; obesity with acanthosis nigricans; polycystic ovary syndrome.
ALL of the following
- a) At initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART).
- b) At switch of ART.
- c) 3–6 months after starting or switching ART.
- d) Annually when initial screening results were normal.
Exclusions
- Fasting plasma glucose testing at a wellness visit with no abnormal findings.
- Measurement of hemoglobin A1c in situations not previously described (see Note 2 for specific exclusions).
A1c-specific exclusions per Note 2
- To test for diabetes in individuals presenting with acute or persistent classic symptoms of diabetes mellitus.
- In pregnant individuals without an established diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes.
- To screen for diabetes in individuals diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
- In conjunction with measurement of fructosamine.
- In individuals with conditions associated with increased red blood cell turnover (e.g., sickle cell disease, HIV positive, receiving hemodialysis or erythropoietin therapy, recent blood loss or transfusion).
ADA-based screening and testing criteria
ADA-recommended indications and intervals for diabetes screening and diagnostic testing as cited in the policy:
Coverage and clinical criteria for diabetes testing and monitoring
Clinical recommendations and testing practices to guide diagnostic and monitoring testing for diabetes and related conditions.
Screening and diagnosis criteria
Screening and diagnostic recommendations summarized from multiple guideline bodies.
Monitoring and perioperative criteria
Monitoring, perioperative care, and special-population considerations.
Coverage stance and operational notes
Guideline-informed clinical context, regulatory notes, and billable codes relevant to diabetes testing are presented.
Coverage changes summary
Revision history reports specific coverage criteria changes; full criteria text not contained in this segment but updates include additions and removals as noted.
Coding and Diagnostic Thresholds
| 82947 | Glucose; quantitative, blood (except reagent strip) |
| 82951 | Glucose; tolerance test (GTT), 3 specimens (includes glucose) |
| 82952 | Glucose; tolerance test, each additional beyond 3 specimens |
| 82985 | Glycated protein |
| 83036 | Hemoglobin; glycosylated (A1C) |
| 83037 | Hemoglobin; glycosylated (A1C) by device cleared by FDA for home use |
| No codes listed |
| No codes listed |
| A1C diagnostic cutoff: A1C ≥6.5% referenced for diagnosis of diabetes; alternative diagnostic criteria include FPG ≥126 mg/dL and 2-h PG ≥200 mg/dL (OGTT). |
| 82947 | Glucose; quantitative, blood (except reagent strip) |
| 82951 | Glucose; tolerance test (GTT), 3 specimens (includes glucose) |
| 82952 | Glucose; tolerance test, each additional beyond 3 specimens |
| 82985 | Glycated protein |
| 83036 | Hemoglobin; glycosylated (A1C) |
| 83037 | Hemoglobin; glycosylated (A1C) by device cleared by FDA for home use |
| No codes listed |
Provider Actions and Operational Notes
Verify member benefits before requesting or billing tests
Application of coverage criteria depends on the member’s individual benefit coverage at the time of the request; specifications for Medicare and Medicaid are in the ‘Applicable State and Federal Regulations’ section and govern determinations for those programs.
Perform A1c with NGSP‑certified methods; limit POC A1c to FDA‑approved CLIA settings
Use NGSP‑certified laboratory methods for A1c testing; point‑of‑care A1c testing for screening or diagnosis is restricted to FDA‑approved devices performed in CLIA‑certified laboratories of moderate complexity or higher by trained personnel.
- If marked discordance exists between A1c and repeat blood glucose, evaluate for test interference and consider plasma glucose criteria.
Obtain inpatient A1c if no result within 3 months
If a person with diabetes or hyperglycemia is admitted and there is no A1c result available from the prior 3 months, perform an A1c test during the hospitalization.
Manage diabetes medications and monitor glucose in the perioperative period
Follow perioperative medication and glucose‑monitoring actions: hold metformin the day of surgery; discontinue SGLT2 inhibitors 3–4 days before surgery; hold other oral agents the morning of surgery and adjust insulin dosing as recommended; monitor blood glucose every 2–4 hours when NPO and dose short/rapid‑acting insulin as needed.
- Aim for perioperative blood glucose ~100–180 mg/dL within 4 hours of surgery and consider A1c <8% for elective procedures when possible.
- Reduce basal insulin by ~25% the evening before surgery or adjust per clinical judgment/insulin type; use basal‑bolus regimens for noncardiac general surgery when indicated.
Follow government (Medicare/Medicaid) coverage rules when they conflict
When this policy conflicts with an applicable government coverage determination (for example, LCDs, NCDs for Medicare, or state Medicaid rules), the government policy supersedes this policy for that member.
Revision summary — material edits to coverage criteria
The revision history reflects material changes to coverage criteria: CC2 was expanded to add quarterly testing for pregnant individuals and CC5 was expanded to add coverage for individuals with MASLD; Note 1 was removed. Providers should consult the updated criteria when requesting authorization or submitting claims.
- Added CC2e: 'Quarterly for individuals who are pregnant.'
- Added CC5i: 'For individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).'
- Removed Note 1 that previously stated plasma glucose alone can diagnose diabetes with classic symptoms.
Key Definitions and Terminology
OpenPayer is powered by Trek Health's payer performance platform. Trek continuously ingests, validates, and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data alongside payer policies and other commercial payer data to create a structured payer intelligence foundation. OpenPayer uses this foundation to deliver personalized search results, dynamically generated policy pages, and tailored policy monitoring based on each user's payers, specialties, billing codes, and areas of interest. The same intelligence powers broader payer performance workflows, including reimbursement benchmarking, contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and financial decision-making.