Partial criteria list — Services requiring prior authorization (partial list in this segment).
The following is a partial list of services that require prior authorization for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan (Pennsylvania CHIP). Prior authorization requests should be submitted via the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal (Prior Authorization and Notification tool), by phone, or by fax. Prior authorization is not required for emergency or urgent care. Out-of-network providers must request prior authorization for all procedures and services (excluding emergent/urgent) as identified below.
For assistance and submission: Online: Use the Prior Authorization and Notification tool on UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal (UHCprovider.com) -> Prior Authorization and Notification. Phone: 800-600-9007 (general) or 866-889-8054 for specific programs (e.g., radiology/cardiology). Fax: 877-310-3826.
Abortion procedures (prior authorization required). CPT/HCPCS example codes listed in source (e.g., 59840–59857).
Bariatric surgery and specific obesity-related services (prior authorization required). Example CPT codes include 43644, 43645, 43659, 43770, 43775, 43842–43846, 43845.
Behavioral health services (prior authorization required).
Cancer supportive care: Prior authorization required for colony-stimulating factor drugs and bone-modifying agents administered in an outpatient setting for a cancer diagnosis. Examples: J1442, J1447, J1448, J2506, Q5101, Q5108, Q5110, Q5111, Q5120, Q5122, Q5125; injectable colony-stimulating factor drugs (e.g., J1449 Rolvedon®, J1442 Neupogen® etc.); bone-modifying agents such as Denosumab (J0897).
Cardiology: Refer to UHCprovider.com/PAcommunityplan > Prior Authorization and Notification Resources > Cardiology Prior for full CPT lists. Phone: 866-889-8054 for prior authorization.
Chemotherapy (injectable, outpatient): Prior authorization required for injectable chemotherapy drugs administered in an outpatient setting (including IV, intravesical, intrathecal) for a cancer diagnosis. Includes chemotherapy injectable drugs billed J9000–J9999, Leucovorin (J0640), Levoleucovorin (J0641, J0642), Lupron Depot (J1950), agents with Q-codes, and miscellaneous HCPCS billed agents.
Cochlear and other auditory implants (prior authorization required). Example HCPCS: L8614, L8619, L8690–L8692.
Continuous glucose monitors: Prior authorization required with Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis. Examples: A4226, A4239, A9276, A9277.
Cosmetic procedures (prior authorization required). Examples include CPT codes 11960, 14020–14021, 14061, 15820–15823, 15830, 15847, 15877–15879, 17106–17108.
Reconstructive procedures: Prior authorization required for reconstructive procedures that treat a medical condition or restore physiologic function. Examples include CPT codes 17999, 21137–21139, 21230, 21235, 21256, 21275, 21280, 21282, 21295, 21740, 21742–21743, 28344, 30620, 67900–67914 and many others.
Durable medical equipment (DME): Prior authorization required only for listed codes with a retail purchase or cumulative rental cost > $500. Examples include A9279, A9280, A9900, E0194, E0265–E0277, E0300, E0328–E0329, E0445, E0457, E0460, E0465.
Enteral services / in-home nutritional therapy: Prior authorization required. Example HCPCS: B4034–B4036, B4100–B4104, B4149, B4150, B4152.
Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAI): Prior authorization required. Example CPT: 29916.
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS): Prior authorization required. Examples: 31240, 31253–31259, 31267, 31276, 31287–31288.
Gender dysphoria treatment: Prior authorization required. Examples: 55970, 55980.
Genetic and molecular testing: Prior authorization required for many outpatient genetic/molecular tests. Example CPT-to-U codes referenced (e.g., 0018U, 0022U, 0023U, 0055U, 0060U, 0087U, 0088U, 0129U, 0171U, 0173U, 0175U, 0179U, 0209U, 0214U, 0215U, 0216U, 0217U, 0237U, 0238U).
Injectable medications (extensive list): Numerous injectable drugs require prior authorization. Examples include J2840, J7190, J7211, J0879, J2507, J0217, J1932, J0202, J0174, J1306, J2778, J0221, J1950, J9217, J3398, J3397, J0630, J0888, J1437, J1458, J0219, J7189, J2796, J2182, J7209, J7188, J2350, J2354, J2267, J0222, J0129, J0224, J1576, J0606, J2550, J1203, J7194, J0897, Q5104, Q5106, Q5123, J7178, J9312, J9311, J7200, J1412, J1449, J0596, Q5119, J2998, J9333 and many others (see full source list).
Joint replacement (total hip/knee and other joint procedures): Prior authorization required for numerous CPT and HCPCS codes (examples shown in source: 23470–23474, 24360–24371, 27120–27138, 27412, 27446–27447, 27486–27487, 29866–29868, J7330, S2112).
Non-emergent air ambulance transport: Prior authorization required. Example HCPCS: A0430–A0436, A0435.
Orthognathic surgery (maxillofacial/jaw functional impairment): Prior authorization required. Example CPTs: 21121, 21123, 21125, 21127, 21141–21147, 21150–21154, 21248–21255, 21296–21299.
Orthotics and prosthetics: Prior authorization required only for codes with retail purchase or cumulative rental cost > $500. Examples include L0112, L8609, L8610, L8612, L8631, L8659.
Pediatric day services (PDHC): Prior authorization required. Example: T1024.
Private duty nursing: Prior authorization required. Examples: T1000, T1002, T1003.
Potentially unproven services: Prior authorization required. Examples: 33289, C2624.
Prostate procedures: Prior authorization required. Examples: 37243, 52441–52442, 53850, 53852, 55866, 55873–55874.
Proton beam therapy: Prior authorization required. Examples: 77520, 77522, 77523, 77525.
Radiology/advanced outpatient imaging: Prior authorization required for certain CT, MRI, MRA, PET scans, nuclear medicine, and nuclear cardiology. Providers ordering advanced outpatient imaging must provide notification prior to scheduling. Call 866-889-8054 or use the Provider Portal.
Rhinoplasty and septoplasty for nasal functional treatment: Prior authorization required. Examples: 30400, 30410, 30420, 30430, 30435–30465, 30450, 30460.
Site-of-service changes and many outpatient hospital procedures (including urologic, spinal, and sleep apnea surgeries): Prior authorization required for listed CPTs (examples in source include urinary system codes 52276, 52287, 52320, 52344, 50590, 52000–52005, 52204, 52224, 52234–52235, 52260, 52281, 52310, 52332, 52351–52356, 54161, 55040, 55700, 57288, 52281, etc.).
Sleep apnea procedures/surgeries: Prior authorization required. Examples: 21685, 41599, 42145.
Spinal surgery (prior authorization required). Example CPTs include 22100–22114, 22206–22224, 22510, 22210, 22212, 22214, 22220, 22224, etc.
Implantable neurostimulation and similar device procedures: Prior authorization required for implantation of devices that send electrical impulses and related CPT/HCPCS codes. Examples include device codes E0747–E0760 and CPTs 61863–61886, 63650–63685, 64553, 64555, 64568, 64570, 64590 and ICD/device HCPCS L8680, L8682, L8685–L8688, L8690–L8692.
Transplants and CAR T-cell therapies (prior authorization required): For transplants and CAR T services (including Abecma®, Breyanzi®, Kymriah™, Tecartus™, Yescarta™), call UnitedHealthcare Community and State Transplant Case Management Team at 888-936-7246 or use the notification number on the member ID card.
Ventricular assist devices (VAD): Prior authorization required. Contact notification number on member ID card and fax forms to Optum VAD Case Management Team at 855-282-8929.
Wound VAC therapy: Prior authorization required. Example HCPCS: E2402.