Sinus Surgery in Adults (FESS and Balloon Ostial Dilation)
Medical policy defining medical necessity criteria, documentation requirements, coding, site-of-service rules, and evidence review for elective sinus surgical procedures (Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery and Balloon Ostial Dilation) in individuals aged 19 and older; includes indications, preoperative medical therapy requirements, and when site-of-service pre-approval is required.
Policy history shows multiple implementation delays and iterative updates between 2014 and 2016 and interim reviews with additions (e.g., age 19+, balloon dilation indications).
Silent sinus syndrome (chronic maxillary atelectasis) added to list of conditions for which FESS may be considered medically necessary.
Maxillary accessory ostium/ostia (ostiomeatal complex) added to imaging findings associated with chronic rhinosinusitis.
Policy updated annually with literature reviews and references; policy statements largely unchanged across reviews.
CPT codes 31233, 31235, 31240 removed from policy.
Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select Surgical Procedures criteria added and related policy 11.01.525 referenced.
Policy language standardized replacing 'patient' with 'individual' throughout the policy.
Policy updated to indicate site of service review does not apply to Indian Health Services (IHS) facilities.