Z08, Encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment for malignant neoplasm
ICD-10-CM
Prior Authorization
No Prior Auth Required
Code is covered without prior authorization (high confidence)
Documentation Required
- 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.
- The patient's medical record must document medical necessity including relevant medical history, physical examination findings, and results of pertinent diagnostic tests or procedures supporting the clinical diagnosis and specific reason for the study.
Key Coverage Criteria
- 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.
- Cardiovascular nuclear medicine testing is reimbursable for risk assessment or re-evaluation in asymptomatic patients or patients with stable symptoms who have known atherosclerotic heart disease on catheterization or SPECT perfusion imaging, provided the patient has not undergone a revascularization procedure within the prior 2 years.
- Blood pool scan to assess left ventricular ejection fraction prior to implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or biventricular pacemaker is covered when the medical record documents the intended plan for device insertion and the test result.
- Simultaneous cardiac function studies using the first-pass technique performed with perfusion imaging (CPT 78451-78454) and reported with CPT 78472 and add-on 78496 are covered when the formal report documents that first-pass cardiac function studies were performed and the laboratory is equipped to perform them.
20 Active Policies
CGS-L33950, Breast Imaging Mammography/Breast Echography (Sonography)/Breast MRI/Ductography
J15
CGS-L34005, Colonoscopy/Sigmoidoscopy/Proctosigmoidoscopy
J15
CGS-L33960, Cardiovascular Nuclear Medicine
J15
A56394, Billing and Coding: Colonoscopy and Sigmoidoscopy-Diagnostic
J5
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