Medicare codes not covered or requiring preauthorization - Colorado
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A quarterly-updated list of Medicare procedure codes that SelectHealth either does not cover or requires preauthorization for, specific to Colorado members; applies to coverage determination and prior authorization processes.
No material clinical or coverage changes in this revision.
Code-level Coverage and Authorization Designations
Sample code-level stances
Examples of coverage stance by code (partial list from this document window):
Selected code stances
Excerpted code-level stances from the list:
General criteria
General coverage notes and exceptions
Document disclaimer and scope.
Per-code flags shown in the roster.
Code-level stances
Per-code coverage indicators
Per-code coverage/authorization nodes (selected examples)
Per-code coverage indicators:
Code-level coverage nodes (examples)
Selected codes are explicitly marked as Not Covered or Preauthorization Required. Examples below reflect the document's code-level stance.
Per-code stances (selected examples)
Per-code coverage stance shown in list segment:
Per-code stances (sample extraction)
Per-code coverage stance (examples from this window):
Per-code stance examples
Per-code coverage stance examples from this excerpt:
Per-code preauthorization examples
Per-code preauthorization examples from this excerpt:
Per-code coverage stance (examples)
Per the listed items, codes are either marked as requiring preauthorization or (rarely) explicitly not covered.
Per-code coverage/authorization flags (examples)
Per-code coverage flags in the Colorado list
General criteria
General coverage notes and exclusions
Document-level disclaimer.
Timestamp provided in roster.
Audiology and Vision coverage stance
Example coverage stance by code group
Coverage stance for listed codes
Codes in these lists are either explicitly not covered or require prior authorization as indicated next to each code.
Telehealth coverage stance
Selected synchronous audio-video and audio-only telehealth visit codes are marked Not Covered in this section.
Per-code coverage stance examples
Codes in this list are categorized per-code as Not Covered or Preauthorization Required. Examples below reflect the per-code markings as presented.
Representative CPT/HCPCS Code Groups and Status
What Providers Must Do — Prior Authorization & Denial Risk
Prior Authorization Required
Many procedure codes in this list require prior authorization before scheduling or billing; codes marked “Preauthorization Required = X” must have prior authorization. Codes marked “Not Covered = X” are excluded and will be denied if billed. Verify member plan coverage and obtain authorization where required.
- Preauthorization Required = X indicates prior authorization is required.
- Not Covered = X indicates the service is excluded from coverage.
- Coverage and authorization requirements may vary by plan — check member-specific benefits.
Breast Surgery — Prior Authorization
Breast and reconstructive surgery CPT codes frequently require prior authorization. Examples below show many breast surgery and reconstruction codes flagged for preauthorization.
Spine & Neurosurgery — Auth and Not Covered Flags
Spine and neurosurgical procedures include many codes that either require prior authorization or are designated Not Covered. Obtain authorization for fusion, interbody device insertion, tethering, and many decompression/laminotomy procedures.
- 22590, 22595, 22600, 22612, 22614, 22630, 22632, 22633, 22634 — Preauthorization Required = X
- 22800, 22802, 22804, 22808, 22810, 22812, 22836, 22837, 22838, 22853, 22854 — Preauthorization Required = X
- 22861, 22862 — 22862 marked Not Covered = X; 22861, 22864–22870 marked Preauthorization Required = X
- Codes 61736, 61737, 62263, 62264, 62287 — several of these are marked Not Covered = X (neurosurgical exclusions)
Preauthorization Required — Selected Excerpt
Selected examples from across the code list illustrating preauthorization-required entries (not exhaustive). Providers must secure authorization per plan rules before providing these services.
- Aesthetic/dermatologic: 11960, 11970, 11971, 15775–15793, 15788–15793 — Preauthorization Required = X
- Cardiac/valve: 33340, 33361–33369 — Preauthorization Required = X
- Vascular/vein procedures: 36465–36476, 37215, 37217–37218 — Preauthorization Required = X
- Bariatric/gastric: 43774, 43775, 43843–43848 — Preauthorization Required = X
- Hysterectomy/laparoscopic gynecologic: 58542–58554 — Preauthorization Required = X
Interventional Pain Procedures — Prior Authorization
Interventional pain and spine pain procedures often require prior authorization or are excluded — confirm for epidural adhesiolysis, facet/nerve injections, ablations, implantable pumps and neurostimulation.
- Facet/zygapophyseal injections: 64490–64495 — Preauthorization Required = X
- Epidural adhesiolysis: 62263–62264 — many entries Not Covered = X
- Spine implant/pump codes: 62330, 62350–62362, 62380 — Preauthorization Required = X
- Neurostimulation/ablation: 64505, 64553, 64581–64596, 64624, 64628 — Preauthorization Required = X (some nerve ablation codes may be Not Covered)
Genetic / Molecular Testing — Prior Authorization
Genetic, molecular, and genomic panel testing codes are commonly subject to prior authorization. Many molecular pathology and multigene panel CPT codes require review before testing.
- Single-gene and pharmacogenomic: 81225–81229, 81239–81250 — many marked Preauthorization Required = X
- Molecular pathology levels and panels: 81400 series (81403–81408, 81419, 81425–81434, etc.) — Preauthorization Required = X
- Genomic sequencing panels / liquid biopsy: 81459, 81460, 81462–81465 — Preauthorization Required = X
- Oncology and prognostic panels: 81500–81523 — Preauthorization Required = X
Not Covered — Examples
Not-covered examples: certain procedures, tests, and immunizations are explicitly excluded and will be denied. Check member-specific benefit design; when a code is marked Not Covered = X, do not expect payment.
- Orthopedics/pelvis: 27217, 27218 — Not Covered = X
- Vein procedures: 36468 — Not Covered = X
- Transplant/donor procedures: select donor prep and transplant codes may be Preauthorization Required = X but some related services are Not Covered
- Immunizations and IG products: 90281, 90291, 90384, 90386, 90389 — many marked Not Covered = X
- Diagnostic imaging and advanced MR spectroscopy: 76019, 76140, 76390 — Not Covered = X
Preauthorization and Not Covered Indicators — Provider Actions
Code-level coverage flags matter operationally: treat any code documented with Not Covered = X as excluded; treat Preauthorization Required = X as actionable — obtain authorization before service. Some codes include plan-specific exceptions or footnotes (e.g., entries flagged with * or plan-specific modifiers).
- Always check the member’s plan and benefits; coverage may vary by plan type.
- Some codes are updated quarterly — confirm the current coding list prior to authorization.
- When in doubt, contact SelectHealth provider services or submit a preauthorization request to avoid claim denials.
Pathology, Reproductive Medicine & Immunization/IG Notes
Additional pathology, reproductive medicine, and immunization/immune globulin notes: many reproductive medicine lab and IVF procedure codes (89240 series, 89250–89398) require prior authorization. Certain immune globulin and immunization services are Not Covered or require prior authorization depending on code.
- Reproductive: 89240, 89250, 89254–89290, 89337, 89398 — Preauthorization Required = X
- Pathology/genetics: 88271–88399, 88749, 89240 — Preauthorization Required = X
- Immune globulin / immunizations: 90281 (Human IG IM) Not Covered = X; 90399 Immune globulin Preauthorization Required = X; 90482–90484 (immunization counseling) Not Covered = X
Provider Summary — Prior Authorization & Denial Risk
Summary — what providers must do: verify member coverage, consult the quarterly updated code list, obtain prior authorization for any code marked Preauthorization Required = X, and do not bill codes marked Not Covered = X. For questions about specialty medications, immunizations, or injectables, use the Pharmacy link on the SelectHealth website.
- Obtain prior authorization for codes marked Preauthorization Required = X before rendering services.
- Do not bill codes marked Not Covered = X — they will be denied.
- Refer specialty medication, injectable drug, and immunization questions to the Pharmacy link on SelectHealth’s website.
- Coding lists are updated quarterly — always confirm the current list before scheduling or billing.
Key Definitions and Disclaimers
Coding Lists Update Frequency and Panel Rules
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