Does A04.71 require prior authorization?

No, A04.71 does not require prior authorization (high confidence). Code is covered without prior authorization.

`A04.71` — Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, recurrent

ICD-10-CM

No Prior Auth Required

Code is covered without prior authorization (high confidence)

The medical record must document the medical reasonableness, necessity, and clinical frequency of the diagnostic colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy and be available to the Contractor upon request.
Documentation must indicate the precise areas scoped and the depth reached during colonoscopy.
Refer to associated LCD L34614 and Medicare IOM for additional coverage and documentation guidance for colorectal cancer screening procedures.
Supportive clinical documentation evidencing the condition and treatment must be in the clinical notes or procedure note and made available upon request to the MAC or other authorized CMS auditor.

Diagnostic colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy is covered to directly visualize the lower gastrointestinal tract (colon, rectum, sigmoid) to detect polyps, tumors, or other intestinal lesions.
Diagnostic colonoscopy is covered when identification of the site of pathology and/or obtaining a biopsy during the procedure is clinically indicated.
A follow-on screening colonoscopy is covered after a positive covered blood-based biomarker noninvasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test per NCD 210.3, effective 2025-01-01.
A colonoscopy may be billed when a sigmoidoscope is used only if the bowel is sufficiently short that the entire colon can be examined and this fact is clearly documented in the clinical record.
An incomplete colonoscopy (inability to advance the colonoscope to the cecum or colon‑small intestine anastomosis due to unforeseen circumstances) is billed using codes 44388, 45378, G0105 or G0121 with modifier -53.
When the colonoscopy procedure is unusual or difficult, report modifier -22 (unusual procedural services) on the claim.

A56394 — Billing and Coding: Colonoscopy and Sigmoidoscopy-Diagnostic

J05

A58761 — Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing

J05

L39044 — MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing

J05

L34614 — Colonoscopy and Sigmoidoscopy-Diagnostic

J05

Ask Verity about documentation requirements, denial risks, or coverage in your state.