Headaches: Invasive Procedures
AETNA-CPB-0707
Aetna covers greater occipital nerve block (CPT 64405) only to diagnose occipital neuralgia (ICD M54.81), temporal artery biopsy (CPT 37609) to rule out temporal arteritis (ICD M31.6), and botulinum toxin for chronic migraine only when CPB‑0113 criteria are met—coverage is contingent on meeting the policy’s selection criteria. Aetna considers a broad array of other invasive interventions (e.g., most nerve blocks except diagnostic occipital block, decompression/neurectomy/neuroplasty, radiofrequency ablation, occipital/occipital nerve stimulation, sphenopalatine ganglion procedures, trigger‑site/nerve‑excision surgeries, and similar listed procedures) experimental/investigational and not covered for cervicogenic, occipital, cluster or other chronic headaches.
"Temporal artery biopsy — CPT 37609: "Ligation or biopsy, temporal artery [covered for biopsy to rule out temporal arteritis]" (ICD-10: M31."