Local Coverage Determination (LCD)

Transcranial Doppler Studies

L33977

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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

Posted: 11/14/2019
Note: In the “Explanation of Revision:” in Revision History Number R4 it was indicated that the addition of ICD-10-CM codes was based on a reconsideration request in error. This addition of the ICD-10-CM codes was based on an external correspondence.

Note History

Contractor Information

LCD Information

Document Information

Source LCD ID
N/A
LCD ID
L33977
Original ICD-9 LCD ID
Not Applicable
LCD Title
Transcranial Doppler Studies
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 10/29/2019
Revision Ending Date
N/A
Retirement Date
N/A
Notice Period Start Date
N/A
Notice Period End Date
N/A

CPT codes, descriptions, and other data only are copyright 2023 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/HHSARS apply.

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
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 Transcranial Doppler Studies. 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 Transcranial Doppler Studies 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

Internet Only Manual (IOM) Citations:

  • CMS IOM Publication 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual,
    • Chapter 13, Section 13.5.4 Reasonable and Necessary Provision in an LCD 
  • CMS IOM Publication 100-03, Medicare National Coverage Determinations (NCD) Manual,
    • Chapter 1, Part 1, Section 20.14 Plethysmography, Section 20.17 Noninvasive Tests of Carotid Function
    • Chapter 1, Part 4, Section 220.5 Ultrasound Diagnostic Procedures

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.

Coverage Guidance

Coverage Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity

History/Background and/or General Information

Transcranial doppler uses low-frequency doppler transducers applied across the thin portions of the temporal bone (the temporal acoustic windows) to obtain flow velocity information from the basal intracerebral arteries. The transtemporal acoustic window provides access to hemodynamic data from the middle, anterior, and posterior cerebral arteries. A suboccipital approach, with insonation through the foramen magnum, provides access to the intracranial vertebral and basilar arteries, while a transorbital approach can be used to insonate the ophthalmic artery and the carotid siphon via the optic foramen. This data allows evaluation of the direction, depth, speed, and characteristics of flow in these vessels.

Covered Indications

Transcranial doppler evaluation of the intracranial cerebrovascular system will be considered medically necessary in any of the following circumstances:

  • The patient has suspected severe intracranial arterial stenosis based on finite clinical evidence of focal ischemia, and knowledge of this stenosis is necessary in order to properly care for the patient.
  • The patient has areas of known severe stenosis or occlusion of arteries supplying the brain and assessment of the pattern and extent of collateral circulation is necessary in order to properly care for the patient.
  • The patient has suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage and transcranial doppler studies are necessary to assess vasoconstriction of cerebral vessels.
  • The patient has suspected or confirmed arteriovenous malformation, and an assessment of the arterial supply and flow pattern is necessary.
  • The patient has suspected brain death.

Limitations

Headaches or dizziness are not indications for transcranial doppler studies of the intracranial vessels unless associated with other localizing signs and symptoms such as nystagmus, limb ataxia, etc.

Transcranial doppler studies performed to monitor cerebral vascular resistance and the effects of vasodilators and other drugs in the treatment of stroke and other brain damage is considered investigational, and therefore not covered.

The use of a simple hand-held or other Doppler device that does not produce hard copy output, or that produces a record that does not permit analysis of bidirectional vascular flow, is considered part of the physical examination of the vascular system and is not separately reported. The appropriate assignment of a specific ultrasound CPT code is not solely determined by the weight, size, or portability of the equipment, but rather by the extent, quality, and documentation of the procedure. If an examination is performed with hand-carried equipment, the quality of the exam, printout, and report must be in keeping with accepted national standards.

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
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

Please refer to the Local Coverage Article: Billing and Coding: Transcranial Doppler Studies (A57633) 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: Transcranial Doppler Studies (A57633) 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 – L29481

Bibliography

Sloan, M.A., Alexandrov, A.V., Tegeler, C.H., Spencer, M.P., Caplan, L.R., Feldman, E., et al. (2004). Assessment: transcranial Doppler ultrasonography: report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of The American Academy of Neurology. Retrieved September 13, 2005.

Society of Vascular Ultrasound-Professional performance guidelines. (2003). Transcranial Doppler (Non-Imaging). Retrieved September 13, 2005.

Revision History Information

Revision History Date Revision History Number Revision History Explanation Reasons for Change
10/29/2019 R4

Revision Number: 3
Publication: October 2019 Connection
LCR B2019-020

Explanation of Revision: Based on 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. 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.

Also, the following unspecified ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes were removed as it is the provider’s responsibility to code to the highest level of specificity: I60.00, I60.10, I60.30, I60.50, I60.7, I63.019, I63.039, I63.119, I63.139, I63.219, I63.239, I63.30, I63.319, I63.329, I63.339, I63.349, I63.40, I63.419, I63.429, I63.439, I63.449, I63.50, I63.519, I63.529, I63.539, I63.549, I65.09, I65.29, I66.09, I66.19, I66.29, I66.9. The effective date of this revision is for dates of service on or after October 29, 2019.

In addition, based on a reconsideration request, the following ICD-10-CM codes were added to the “Group 1 Codes” “ICD-10 codes that are covered” section of the newly created billing and coding article: G45.2, G45.3, G45.4, G45.8, G45.9, G46.0, G46.1, G46.2, G97.31, G97.32, G97.48, G97.49, G97.51, G97.52, I61.0, I61.1, I61.3, I61.4, I61.5, I61.6, I61.8, I63.09, I63.19, I63.29, I67.1, I67.2, I67.7, I67.81, I67.82, I67.841, I67.848, I67.89, I67.9, I72.6, I74.9, I76, S09.0XXA, S09.0XXD, S09.0XXS, S15.111A, S15.111D, S15.111S, S15.112A, S15.112D, S15.112S, S15.121A, S15.121D, S15.121S, S15.122A, S15.122D, S15.122S, S15.191A, S15.191D, S15.191S, S15.192A, S15.192D, S15.192S, Z09. The effective date of this revision is for dates of service on or after October 29, 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.

  • Reconsideration Request
  • Other (Revisions based on CR 10901)
10/01/2018 R3

Revision Number: 2
Publication: September 2018 Connection
LCR B2018-017

Explanation of Revision: Based on CR 10847 (Annual 2019 ICD-10-CM Update), the LCD was revised. Descriptor revised for ICD-10-CM diagnosis code I63.239. In addition, the LCD was revised to indicate that diagnosis codes were added, deleted, and descriptors revised within existing diagnosis code ranges. The effective date of this revision is based on date of service.

10/01/2018:  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.

  • Revisions Due To ICD-10-CM Code Changes
10/01/2017 R2

Revision Number: 1

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 I63.211. 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 Based on CR 9677 (Annual 2017 ICD-10-CM Update), the LCD was revised; he following ICD-10 codes were added to these code ranges in the ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity field:
I60.2 was added to code range I60.00 - I60.9 in Group 1

I63.013 was added to code range I63.011 - I63.039 in Group 1
I63.033 was added to code range I63.011 - I63.039 in Group 1

I63.113 was added to code range I63.111 - I63.139 in Group 1
I63.133 was added to code range I63.111 - I63.139 in Group 1

I63.213 was added to code range I63.211 - I63.239 in Group 1
I63.233 was added to code range I63.211 - I63.239 in Group 1
I63.313 was added to code range I63.30 - I65.8 in Group 1
I63.323 was added to code range I63.30 - I65.8 in Group 1
I63.333 was added to code range I63.30 - I65.8 in Group 1
I63.343 was added to code range I63.30 - I65.8 in Group 1
I63.413 was added to code range I63.30 - I65.8 in Group 1
I63.423 was added to code range I63.30 - I65.8 in Group 1
I63.433 was added to code range I63.30 - I65.8 in Group 1
I63.443 was added to code range I63.30 - I65.8 in Group 1
I63.513 was added to code range I63.30 - I65.8 in Group 1
I63.523 was added to code range I63.30 - I65.8 in Group 1
I63.533 was added to code range I63.30 - I65.8 in Group 1
I63.543 was added to code range I63.30 - I65.8 in Group 1
  • Revisions Due To ICD-10-CM Code Changes
N/A

Associated Documents

Attachments
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Related National Coverage Documents
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Public Versions
Updated On Effective Dates Status
10/25/2019 10/29/2019 - 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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