Fractionation, Image-Guidance, and Special Services
Defines medical necessity criteria for external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) fractionation limits, indications for image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), special services (dosimetry, physics consults, special procedures), and coding/billing clarifications for UnitedHealthcare Commercial and Individual Exchange plans. This part covers criteria for bone metastases, breast cancer, locally advanced NSCLC, and prostate cancer as well as coding guidance and supporting evidence summaries.
Added criterion requiring delivery of up to 10 fractions for accelerated partial-breast irradiation with 3D technique.
Replaced connective tissue disorder wording to specify 'systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma' for delivery of up to 33 fractions (inclusive of boost).
Added instruction to refer to coding clarifications in the Applicable Codes section for IGRT.
Removed language indicating IGRT is not medically necessary for superficial treatment of skin cancer when listed criteria are not met.
Coding clarifications specifying which CPT codes correspond to levels of treatment complexity and inclusion of IGRT technical component in delivery codes.
Updated notation on megavoltage planning/imaging/treatment codes (77436-77439) usage for superficial, surface, or orthovoltage radiation therapy.
Updated notation that special dosimetry (CPT code 77331) should be used to document the me... (text truncated).
Defines Level 1/2/3 mapping and documentation requirement for Level 3; material for billing practice.
Clarified that the technical component of IGRT is included in CPT codes 77402, 77407, and 77412 and should not be reported separately; professional IGRT should be reported as 77387-26.
Updated notation that megavoltage planning, imaging, and treatment codes should not be reported during superficial, surface, or orthovoltage radiation therapy and that CPT codes 77436–77439 should be reported for those therapies.
Updated guidance that special dosimetry (77331) documents dose measurements at specific points with specialized devices and typically ranges from one to six measurements; IMRT planning (77301) includes special dosimetry.
Removed notation indicating CPT code 77301 is considered for coverage only when the primary radiation procedure is proven and medically necessary.