Code is covered without prior authorization (high confidence)
Medicare Pricing
Work RVU
36.08
Facility
$2473.67
Non-Facility
$2473.67
Documentation Required
Documentation that non-epileptic attacks (e.g., cardiogenic syncope, psychogenic seizures) have been ruled out.
Comprehensive presurgical evaluation documentation (inferred requirement): detailed seizure history, prior anti‑seizure medication trials and failures, seizure frequency and type.
Electroencephalography (EEG) data including scalp EEG and, when applicable, invasive/subdural recordings — documentation of seizure focus localization (inferred from multiple EEG and invasive monitoring citations).
Neuroimaging: high‑quality MRI with epilepsy protocol; when applicable diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), MRI thermometry for LITT, and correlation of MRI with clinical data (inferred from DTI and MRI‑guided therapy citations).
Key Coverage Criteria
Transection of corpus callosum (callosotomy) — CPT 61541, covered if selection criteria are met
Cerebral hemispherectomy when all selection criteria are met, including members with unilateral multi-focal epilepsy associated with infantile hemiplegia (especially in hemimegalencephaly and Sturge-Weber disease).
Corpus callosotomy when all selection criteria are met, including members with focal to bilateral seizures (formerly known as secondarily generalized seizures).
Temporal lobectomy (including selective amygdalohippocampectomy) when all selection criteria are met, including members with focal impaired awareness seizures (formerly known as complex partial seizures) of temporal or extra-temporal origin.
Magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) (e.g., NeuroBlate, Visualase) as an alternative to standard surgery where criteria in section A. on epilepsy surgery are met.
Deep brain stimulation for members with intractable seizures when medical necessity criteria are met as specified in CPB 0208 - Deep Brain Stimulation.
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Neuropsychological testing and functional mapping (e.g., Wada/intracarotid amobarbital procedure or functional imaging) when indicated for language/memory risk assessment (inferred from references to neuropsychology and Wada procedure).
Documentation of multidisciplinary epilepsy center evaluation and discussion of surgical candidacy (inferred from multiple guideline/review citations emphasizing center‑based care).