Description
The surgical management for the treatment of morbid obesity is considered reasonable and necessary for Medicare beneficiaries who have a BMI ≥ 35, have at least one co-morbidity related to obesity and have been previously unsuccessful with the medical treatment of obesity. Claims reporting surgical services for beneficiaries that do not meet all the Medicare coverage guidelines will be denied as not medically necessary and may result in an overpayment.
Affected Code(s)
43770, 43644, 43645, 43845, 43846, 43847, 43775
Applicable Policy References
1. Social Security Act (SSA), Title XVIII- Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)- Exclusions from Coverage and Medicare as a Secondary Payer
2. Social Security Act (SSA), Title XVIII- Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled, Section 1833(e)- Payment of Benefits
3. 42 CFR §405.929- Post-Payment Review
4. 42 CFR §405.930- Failure to Respond to Additional Documentation Request
5. 42 CFR §405.980- Reopening of Initial Determinations, Redeterminations, Reconsiderations, Decisions, and Reviews, (b)- Timeframes and Requirements for Reopening Initial Determinations and Redeterminations Initiated by a Contractor; and (c)- Timeframes and Requirements for Reopening Initial Determinations and Redeterminations Requested by a Party
6. 42 CFR §405.986- Good Cause for Reopening
7. National Coverage Determinations Manual, Chapter 1, Part 2, Section 100.1- Bariatric Surgery for Treatment of Co-Morbid Conditions Related to Morbid Obesity, Effective 9/24/2013
8. Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 32- Billing Requirements for Special Services, Section 150- Billing Requirements for Bariatric Surgery for Treatment of Morbid Obesity
9. Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 3- Verifying Potential Errors and Taking Corrective Actions, §§3.1- 3.6.6
10. First Coast LCD L33411- Surgical Management of Morbid Obesity; Effective 10/1/2015; Revised 10/01/2019
11. Palmetto GBA LCD L34576- Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for Severe Obesity; Effective 10/1/2015; Revised 09/08/2022
12. Novitas LCD L35022- Bariatric Surgical Management of Morbid Obesity; Effective 10/01/2015; Revised 05/13/2021
13. NGS LCA A52447- Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG)- Medical Policy Article; Effective 10/01/2015; Revision 10/01/2021
14. Noridian LCA A53026- Billing and Coding: Bariatric Surgery Coverage; Effective 10/01/2015; Revised 10/01/2023
15. Noridian LCA A53028- Billing and Coding: Bariatric Surgery Coverage; Effective 10/01/2015; Revised 10/01/2023
16. Novitas LCA A56422- Billing and Coding: Bariatric Surgical Management of Morbid Obesity: Effective 03/28/2019; Revised 10/01/2023
17. WPS LCA A54923- Billing and Coding: Bariatric Surgery for Treatment of Co-Morbidities Conditions Related to Morbid Obesity; Effective 3/01/2016; Revised: 8/31/2023
18. Palmetto GBA LCA A56852- Billing and Coding: Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for Severe Obesity; Effective 08/15/2019; Revised 10/01/2023
19. First Coast LCA A57145- Billing and Coding: Surgical Management of Morbid Obesity; Effective 10/03/2018; Revised 10/01/2023
20. First Coast LCA A55930- Surgical Management of Morbid Obesity Revision to the Part A and Part B LCD; Effective 3/15/2018, Retired 10/15/2021
21. First Coast LCA A56182- Surgical Management of Morbid Obesity Revision to the Part A and Part B LCD; Effective 11/06/2018, Retired 10/15/2021
22. AMA CPT Codebook
23. AHA ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codebook
24. AHA ICD-10-PCS Procedure Codebook