Local Coverage Determination (LCD)

Noninvasive Ear or Pulse Oximetry For Oxygen Saturation

L33923

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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
L33923
Original ICD-9 LCD ID
Not Applicable
LCD Title
Noninvasive Ear or Pulse Oximetry For Oxygen Saturation
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 10/01/2019
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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Current Dental Terminology © 2023 American Dental Association. All rights reserved.

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Issue

Issue Description
Issue - Explanation of Change Between Proposed LCD and Final LCD

CMS National Coverage Policy

This LCD supplements but does not replace, modify or supersede existing Medicare applicable National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) or payment policy rules and regulations for Noninvasive Ear or Pulse Oximetry For Oxygen Saturation. Federal statute and subsequent Medicare regulations regarding provision and payment for medical services are lengthy. They are not repeated in this LCD. Neither Medicare payment policy rules nor this LCD replace, modify or supersede applicable state statutes regarding medical practice or other health practice professions acts, definitions and/or scopes of practice. All providers who report services for Medicare payment must fully understand and follow all existing laws, regulations and rules for Medicare payment for Noninvasive Ear or Pulse Oximetry For Oxygen Saturation and must properly submit only valid claims for them. Please review and understand them and apply the medical necessity provisions in the policy within the context of the manual rules. Relevant CMS manual instructions and policies may be found in the following Internet-Only Manuals (IOMs) published on the CMS Web site.

Internet Only Manual (IOM) Citations:

  • CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual,
    • Chapter 15, Section 80 Requirements for Diagnostic X-Ray, Diagnostic Laboratory, and Other Diagnostic Tests
  • CMS IOM Publication 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual,
    • Chapter 13, Section 13.5.4 Reasonable and Necessary Provision in an LCD

Social Security Act (Title XVIII) Standard References:

  • Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, Section 1862(a)(1)(A) states that no Medicare payment shall be made for items or services which are not reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury. 
  • Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, Section 1862(a)(7). This section excludes routine physical examinations. 
  • Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, Section 1833(e) states that no payment shall be made to any provider for any claim that lacks the necessary information to process the claim.

Federal Register References:

  • Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 42, Volume 2, Chapter IV, Part 410.32 Diagnostic x-ray tests, diagnostic laboratory tests, and other diagnostic tests: Conditions and Part 410.33 Independent diagnostic testing facility.

Coverage Guidance

Coverage Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity

History/Background and/or General Information

Pulse oximetry provides a simple, accurate, and noninvasive technique for the continuous or intermittent monitoring of arterial oxygen saturation. A small lightweight device attaches to the finger or toe and directs through the nailbed two wavelengths of light; a photodetector measures absorption. Arterial pulsation is used to gate the signal to the arterial component of blood contained within the nailbed.

Ear oximetry is a noninvasive method for evaluating arterial oxygenation. Ear oximeters are commonly used in sleep studies.

Covered Indications

Single and Multiple Determinations of oxygen saturation:

Ear or pulse oximetry for oxygen saturation will be considered medically necessary when the patient has a condition resulting in hypoxemia and there is a need to assess the status of a chronic respiratory condition, supplemental oxygen requirements and/or a therapeutic regimen.

Continuous Overnight Monitoring of oxygen saturation:

Ear or pulse oximetry for oxygen saturation by continuous overnight monitoring will be considered medically necessary in the following circumstances:

  • The patient must have a condition for which intermittent arterial blood gas sampling is likely to miss important variations, and
  • The patient must have a condition resulting in hypoxemia and there is a need to assess supplemental oxygen requirements and/or a therapeutic regimen.

Limitations

As published in the CMS IOM Publication 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 13, Section 13.5.4, an item or service may be covered by a contractor LCD if it is reasonable and necessary under the Social Security Act Section 1862 (a)(1)(A). Contractors shall determine and describe the circumstances under which the item or service is considered reasonable and necessary.

Summary of Evidence

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Analysis of Evidence (Rationale for Determination)

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Proposed Process Information

Synopsis of Changes
Changes Fields Changed
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Associated Information
Sources of Information
Bibliography
Open Meetings
Meeting Date Meeting States Meeting Information
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Contractor Advisory Committee (CAC) Meetings
Meeting Date Meeting States Meeting Information
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MAC Meeting Information URLs
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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

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Revenue Codes

Code Description

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N/A

CPT/HCPCS Codes

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N/A

ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph:

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Group 1 Codes:

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

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph:

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Group 1 Codes:

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Additional ICD-10 Information

General Information

Associated Information

Documentation Requirements

Please refer to the Local Coverage Article: Billing and Coding: Noninvasive Ear or Pulse Oximetry For Oxygen Saturation (A57115) for documentation requirements that apply to the reasonable and necessary provisions outlined in this LCD.

Utilization Guidelines

Please refer to the Local Coverage Article: Billing and Coding: Noninvasive Ear or Pulse Oximetry For Oxygen Saturation (A57115) for utilization guidelines that apply to the reasonable and necessary provisions outlined in this LCD.

Sources of Information

First Coast Service Options, Inc. reference LCD number – L29370

Bibliography

N/A

Revision History Information

Revision History Date Revision History Number Revision History Explanation Reasons for Change
10/01/2019 R3

Revision Number: 3
Publication: September 2019 Connection
LCR B2019-022

Explanation of Revision: Based on Change Request (CR) 10901, the LCD was revised to remove all billing and coding and all language not related to reasonable and necessary provisions (“Bill Type Codes”, “Revenue Codes”, “CPT/HCPCS Codes”, “ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity”, “Documentation Requirements” and “Utilization Guidelines” sections of the LCD) and place them into a newly created billing and coding article. During the process of moving the ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes to the billing and coding article, the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code ranges were broken out and listed individually. In addition, the Social Security Act, Code of Federal Regulations, and IOM reference sections were updated. The effective date of this revision is for claims processed on or after January 8, 2019, for dates of service on or after October 3, 2018.

Based on CR 11322 (Annual 2020 ICD-10-CM Update) the newly created Billing and Coding Article was revised. Descriptor revised for ICD-10-CM diagnosis code J44.0. The effective date of this revision is for dates of service on or after 10/01/19.

10/01/2019: 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 LCD.

  • Revisions Due To ICD-10-CM Code Changes
  • Other (Revisions based on CRs 10901, 11322)
10/01/2017 R2

Revision Number: 2

Publication: September 2017 Connection

LCR B2017-011

Explanation of Revision: Based on CR 10153 (Annual 2018 ICD-10-CM Update) the LCD was revised. Descriptor revised for ICD-10-CM diagnosis code I50.1. Added ICD-10-CM diagnosis code R06.03. The effective date of this revision is based on date of service.

 

10/01/2017:  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.

  • Revisions Due To ICD-10-CM Code Changes
10/01/2016 R1 Revision Number: 1
Publication: October 2016 Connection
LCR B2016-097

Explanation of Revision: Based on CR 9677 (Annual 2017 ICD-10-CM Update) the LCD was revised to add ICD-10 diagnosis code range I16.0 – I16.9 for CPT codes 94760, 94761 and 94762. The effective date of this revision is based on date of service.

  • Revisions Due To ICD-10-CM Code Changes
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Associated Documents

Attachments
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Related National Coverage Documents
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Public Versions
Updated On Effective Dates Status
10/02/2019 10/01/2019 - N/A Currently in Effect You are here
Some older versions have been archived. Please visit the MCD Archive Site to retrieve them.

Keywords

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