Local Coverage Determination (LCD)

Immunosuppressive Drugs

L33824

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Proposed LCD
Proposed LCDs are works in progress that are available on the Medicare Coverage Database site for public review. Proposed LCDs are not necessarily a reflection of the current policies or practices of the contractor.

Document Note

Note History

Contractor Information

LCD Information

Document Information

Source LCD ID
N/A
LCD ID
L33824
Original ICD-9 LCD ID
Not Applicable
LCD Title
Immunosuppressive Drugs
Proposed LCD in Comment Period
N/A
Source Proposed LCD
N/A
Original Effective Date
For services performed on or after 10/01/2015
Revision Effective Date
For services performed on or after 04/01/2024
Revision Ending Date
N/A
Retirement Date
N/A
Notice Period Start Date
N/A
Notice Period End Date
N/A

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Fee schedules, relative value units, conversion factors and/or related components are not assigned by the AMA, are not part of CPT, and the AMA is not recommending their use. The AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. The AMA assumes no liability for data contained or not contained herein.

Current Dental Terminology © 2023 American Dental Association. All rights reserved.

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Issue

Issue Description

The LCD is revised to add HCPCS code J2919, to remove HCPCS codes J2920 and J2930, and to revise the long description for J7516, based on CMS HCPCS coding determinations.

Issue - Explanation of Change Between Proposed LCD and Final LCD

No proposed LCD issued.

CMS National Coverage Policy

None

Coverage Guidance

Coverage Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity

For any item to be covered by Medicare, it must 1) be eligible for a defined Medicare benefit category, 2) be reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member, and 3) meet all other applicable Medicare statutory and regulatory requirements.

The purpose of a Local Coverage Determination (LCD) is to provide information regarding “reasonable and necessary” criteria based on Social Security Act § 1862(a)(1)(A) provisions.

In addition to the “reasonable and necessary” criteria contained in this LCD there are other payment rules, which are discussed in the following documents, that must also be met prior to Medicare reimbursement:

  • The LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section.
  • The LCD-related Policy Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section.
  • Refer to the Supplier Manual for additional information on documentation requirements.
  • Refer to the DME MAC web sites for additional bulletin articles and other publications related to this LCD.

For the items addressed in this LCD, the “reasonable and necessary” criteria, based on Social Security Act § 1862(a)(1)(A) provisions, are defined by the following coverage indications, limitations and/or medical necessity.

The statutory coverage criteria for immunosuppressive drugs are specified in the related Policy Article.

For immunosuppressive drugs covered under this policy, the dosage, frequency and route of administration must conform to generally accepted medical practice and must be medically necessary to prevent or treat the rejection of an organ transplant.

Coverage of parenteral azathioprine (J7501) or methylprednisolone (J2919) is limited to those situations in which the medication cannot be tolerated or absorbed if taken orally and is self-administered by the beneficiary. Claims for parenteral azathioprine or methylprednisolone that do not meet this criterion will be denied as not medically necessary (CMS Benefit Policy Manual, Internet-Only Manual, CMS Pub. 100-02, Chapter 15, Section 50.4.3 [hereinafter bp102c15, §50.4.3]).

Immunosuppressive drugs are covered only for the specific labeled indications and approval for marketing by the FDA (bp 102c15, §50.5.1). Parenteral belatacept (J0485), antithymocyte globulin (J7504, J7511), muromonab-CD3 (J7505), daclizumab (J7513), cyclosporine (J7516), and tacrolimus (J7525) are not proven to be safe when administered in the home setting and therefore will be denied as not medically necessary when provided in that setting.

Drugs may be covered only if dispensed and billed to Medicare by the entity that actually dispenses the drug to the Medicare beneficiary, and that entity must be permitted under all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations to dispense drugs. Only entities licensed in the state where they are physically located may bill the DME MAC for immunosuppressive drugs (bp102c15, §110.3). Treating practitioners may bill the DME MAC for drugs if all of the following conditions are met: the treating practitioner is 1) enrolled as a DMEPOS supplier with the National Supplier Clearinghouse, and 2) dispensing the drug(s) to the Medicare beneficiary, and 3) authorized by the State to dispense drugs as part of the treating practitioner’s license. Claims submitted by entities not licensed to dispense drugs will be denied for lack of medical necessity.

The quantity of immunosuppressive drugs dispensed is limited to a 30-day supply. Quantities of immunosuppressive drugs dispensed in excess of a 30-day supply will be denied as not medically necessary. If a drug is denied as not medically necessary, the related supply fee (Q0510, Q0511 and Q0512) will be denied as not medically necessary (bp102c15, §50.4.3 and CMS Claims Processing Manual, Internet-Only Manual, CMS Pub. 100-04, Chapter 17, Section 80.3 [hereinafter clm104c17, §80.3]).


GENERAL

A Standard Written Order (SWO) must be communicated to the supplier before a claim is submitted. If the supplier bills for an item addressed in this policy without first receiving a completed SWO, the claim shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary.

For Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) base items that require a Written Order Prior to Delivery (WOPD), the supplier must have received a signed SWO before the DMEPOS item is delivered to a beneficiary. If a supplier delivers a DMEPOS item without first receiving a WOPD, the claim shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary. Refer to the LCD-related Policy Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section.

For DMEPOS base items that require a WOPD, and also require separately billed associated options, accessories, and/or supplies, the supplier must have received a WOPD which lists the base item and which may list all the associated options, accessories, and/or supplies that are separately billed prior to the delivery of the items. In this scenario, if the supplier separately bills for associated options, accessories, and/or supplies without first receiving a completed and signed WOPD of the base item prior to delivery, the claim(s) shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary.

An item/service is correctly coded when it meets all the coding guidelines listed in CMS HCPCS guidelines, LCDs, LCD-related Policy Articles, or DME MAC articles. Claims that do not meet coding guidelines shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary/incorrectly coded.

Proof of delivery (POD) is a Supplier Standard and DMEPOS suppliers are required to maintain POD documentation in their files. Proof of delivery documentation must be made available to the Medicare contractor upon request. All services that do not have appropriate proof of delivery from the supplier shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary.

 

REFILL REQUIREMENTS

For DMEPOS items and supplies provided on a recurring basis, billing must be based on prospective, not retrospective use. For DMEPOS products that are supplied as refills to the original order, suppliers must contact the beneficiary, and document an affirmative response, prior to dispensing the refill and not automatically ship on a pre-determined basis, even if authorized by the beneficiary. This shall be done to ensure that the refilled item remains reasonable and necessary, existing supplies are expected to end, and to confirm any changes or modifications to the order. Contact with the beneficiary or designee regarding refills must take place no sooner than 30 calendar days prior to the expected end of the current supply. For delivery of refills, the supplier must deliver the DMEPOS product no sooner than 10 calendar days prior to the expected end of the current supply. This is regardless of which delivery method is utilized.

For all DMEPOS items that are provided on a recurring basis, suppliers are required to have contact with the beneficiary or caregiver/designee and document an affirmative response, prior to dispensing a new supply of items. Suppliers must not deliver refills without a refill request and an affirmative response from a beneficiary. Items delivered without a valid, documented refill request will be denied as not reasonable and necessary.

Suppliers must not dispense a quantity of supplies exceeding a beneficiary's expected utilization. Suppliers must stay attuned to changed or atypical utilization patterns on the part of their clients. Suppliers must verify with the treating practitioner that any changed or atypical utilization is warranted.

Regardless of utilization, a supplier must not dispense more than a one (1) -month quantity at a time.

Summary of Evidence

N/A

Analysis of Evidence (Rationale for Determination)

N/A

Proposed Process Information

Synopsis of Changes
Changes Fields Changed
N/A
Associated Information
Sources of Information
Bibliography
Open Meetings
Meeting Date Meeting States Meeting Information
N/A
Contractor Advisory Committee (CAC) Meetings
Meeting Date Meeting States Meeting Information
N/A
MAC Meeting Information URLs
N/A
Proposed LCD Posting Date
Comment Period Start Date
Comment Period End Date
Reason for Proposed LCD
Requestor Information
This request was MAC initiated.
Requestor Name Requestor Letter
View Letter
N/A
Contact for Comments on Proposed LCD

Coding Information

Bill Type Codes

Code Description

Please accept the License to see the codes.

N/A

Revenue Codes

Code Description

Please accept the License to see the codes.

N/A

CPT/HCPCS Codes

Please accept the License to see the codes.

N/A

ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph:

N/A

Group 1 Codes:

N/A

N/A

ICD-10-CM Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph:

N/A

Group 1 Codes:

N/A

N/A

Additional ICD-10 Information

General Information

Associated Information

DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

Section 1833(e) of the Social Security Act precludes payment to any provider of services unless "there has been furnished such information as may be necessary in order to determine the amounts due such provider.” It is expected that the beneficiary's medical records will reflect the need for the care provided. The beneficiary's medical records include the the treating practitioner’s office records, hospital records, nursing home records, home health agency records, records from other healthcare professionals and test reports. This documentation must be available upon request.

GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

In order to justify payment for DMEPOS items, suppliers must meet the following requirements:

  • SWO
  • Medical Record Information (including continued need/use if applicable)
  • Correct Coding
  • Proof of Delivery


Refer to the LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section for additional information regarding these requirements.

Refer to the Supplier Manual for additional information on documentation requirements.

Refer to the DME MAC web sites for additional bulletin articles and other publications related to this LCD.

POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

Items covered in this LCD have additional policy-specific requirements that must be met prior to Medicare reimbursement.

Refer to the LCD-related Policy article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section for additional information.

Miscellaneous

Appendices

Utilization Guidelines

Refer to Coverage Indications, Limitations and/or Medical Necessity.

Sources of Information
Reserved for future use.
Bibliography

N/A

Revision History Information

Revision History Date Revision History Number Revision History Explanation Reasons for Change
04/01/2024 R11

Revision Effective Date: 04/01/2024
COVERAGE INDICATIONS, LIMITATIONS, AND/OR MEDICAL NECESSITY:
Added: J2919 as methylprednisolone HCPCS code
Removed: J2920 and J2930 as methylprednisolone HCPCS codes
HCPCS CODES:
Added: HCPCS code J2919
Removed: HCPCS codes J2920 and J2930
Revised: HCPCS J7516 narrative from "CYCLOSPORIN, PARENTERAL, 250 MG” to “INJECTION, CYCLOSPORINE, 250 MG”

05/02/2024: Pursuant to the 21st Century Cures Act, these revisions do not require notice and comment because the revisions are non-discretionary updates per CMS HCPCS coding determinations.

  • Provider Education/Guidance
  • Revisions Due To CPT/HCPCS Code Changes
01/01/2024 R10

Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2024
COVERAGE INDICATIONS, LIMITATIONS, AND/OR MEDICAL NECESSITY:
Added: “and document an affirmative response” to language that pertains to contact with the beneficiary or caregiver/designee for DMEPOS products supplied as refills
Revised: “approaching exhaustion” to “expected to end” in regard to existing supplies
Revised: “Contact with the beneficiary or designee regarding refills must take place no sooner than 14 calendar days prior to the delivery/shipping date.” to “Contact with the beneficiary or designee regarding refills must take place no sooner than 30 calendar days prior to the expected end of the current supply.”
Revised: “For delivery of refills, the supplier must deliver the DMEPOS product no sooner than 10 calendar days prior to the end of usage for the current product.” to “For delivery of refills, the supplier must deliver the DMEPOS product no sooner than 10 calendar days prior to the expected end of the current supply.”

12/14/2023: Pursuant to the 21st Century Cures Act, these revisions do not require notice and comment because the revisions are non-discretionary updates to refill requirement information per CMS Final Rule CMS-1780-F

  • Provider Education/Guidance
  • Other (CMS Final Rule CMS-1780-F)
01/01/2020 R9

Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2020
CODING INFORMATION:
Removed: Field titled “Bill Type”
Removed: Field titled “Revenue Codes”
Removed: Field titled “ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity”
Removed: Field titled “ICD-10 Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity”
Removed: Field titled “Additional ICD-10 Information”


As required by CR 10901, the ICD-10 information has been moved to all Policy Articles. There is no change in coverage.

  • Other
01/01/2020 R8

Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2020
COVERAGE INDICATIONS, LIMITATIONS AND/OR MEDICAL NECESSITY:
Revised: “physician” to “treating practitioner”
GENERAL:
Revised: Order information as a result of Final Rule 1713
REFILL REQUIREMENTS:
Revised: “ordering physician” to “treating practitioner”
DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Revised: “physician's” to “treating practitioner's”
GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Revised: Prescriptions (orders) to SWO

02/06/2020: Pursuant to the 21st Century Cures Act, these revisions do not require notice and comment because they are due to non-discretionary coverage updates reflective of CMS FR-1713.

  • Provider Education/Guidance
01/01/2017 R7

Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2017
GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Revised: Bullet spacing

  • Typographical Error
01/01/2017 R6

No changes have been made to this LCD

04/05/2018: At this time 21st Century Cures Act will apply to new and revised LCDs that restrict coverage which requires comment and notice. This revision is not a restriction to the coverage determination; and, therefore not all the fields included on the LCD are applicable as noted in this policy.

  • Other
01/01/2017 R5 Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2017
COVERAGE INDICATIONS, INDICATIONS, LIMITATIONS AND/OR MEDICAL NECESSITY:
Removed: Standard Documentation Language
Added: New reference language and directions to Standard Documentation Requirements
Added: General Requirements
Revised: Refill Requirements
DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Removed: Standard Documentation Language
Added: General Documentation Requirements
Added: New reference language and directions to Standard Documentation Requirements
POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Removed: Standard Documentation Language
Added: Direction to Standard Documentation Requirements
Removed: Information under Miscellaneous and Appendices
RELATED LOCAL COVERAGE DOCUMENTS:
Added: LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements article
  • Provider Education/Guidance
07/01/2016 R4 Effective July 1, 2016 oversight for DME MAC LCDs is the responsibility of CGS Administrators, LLC 18003 and 17013 and Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC 19003 and 16013. No other changes have been made to the LCDs.
  • Change in Assigned States or Affiliated Contract Numbers
01/01/2016 R3 Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2016
HCPCS CODES:
Added: J7503 and J7512
Updated: J7508 narrative
Deleted: J7506
DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Revised: Standard Documentation Language to remove start date verbiage from Prescription Requirements (Effective 11/5/2015)
  • Provider Education/Guidance
  • Revisions Due To CPT/HCPCS Code Changes
10/01/2015 R2 Revision Effective Date: 10/01/2015
COVERAGE INDICATIONS, LIMITATIONS AND/OR MEDICAL NECESSITY:
Revised: Standard Documentation Language to add covered prior to a beneficiary’s Medicare eligibility
DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Revised: Standard Documentation Language to add who can enter date of delivery date on the POD
POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Removed: ICD-9 CM reference
  • Provider Education/Guidance
10/01/2015 R1 Revision Effective Date: 10/01/2014
DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Revised: Continued Need and Use Sections
  • Provider Education/Guidance
N/A

Associated Documents

Attachments
N/A
Related National Coverage Documents
N/A
Public Versions
Updated On Effective Dates Status
04/25/2024 04/01/2024 - N/A Currently in Effect You are here
12/07/2023 01/01/2024 - 03/31/2024 Superseded View
02/13/2020 01/01/2020 - 12/31/2023 Superseded View
01/30/2020 01/01/2020 - N/A Superseded View
Some older versions have been archived. Please visit the MCD Archive Site to retrieve them.

Keywords

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