Local Coverage Determination (LCD)

MolDX: Next-Generation Sequencing for Solid Tumors

L38045

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Proposed LCD
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Document Note

Note History

Contractor Information

LCD Information

Document Information

Source LCD ID
N/A
LCD ID
L38045
Original ICD-9 LCD ID
Not Applicable
LCD Title
MolDX: Next-Generation Sequencing for Solid Tumors
Proposed LCD in Comment Period
N/A
Source Proposed LCD
DL38045
Original Effective Date
For services performed on or after 02/10/2020
Revision Effective Date
For services performed on or after 06/08/2023
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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Issue

Issue Description

This LCD outlines limited coverage for this service with specific details under Coverage Indications, Limitations and/or Medical Necessity.

Issue - Explanation of Change Between Proposed LCD and Final LCD

CMS National Coverage Policy

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (SSA), §1862(a)(1)(A), states that no Medicare payment shall be made for items or services that “are not reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member.”

42 CFR §410.32 Diagnostic x-ray tests, diagnostic laboratory tests, and other diagnostic tests: Conditions

CMS Internet-Only Manual, Pub. 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, §80 Requirements for Diagnostic X-Ray, Diagnostic Laboratory, and Other Diagnostic Tests, §80.1.1 Certification Changes

CMS Internet-Only Manual, Pub 100-03, Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual, Chapter 1, Part 2, §90.2 Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) for Patients with Advanced Cancer

Coverage Guidance

Coverage Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity

This policy describes and clarifies coverage for Lab-Developed Tests (LDTs), Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared, and FDA-approved clinical laboratory tests utilizing Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in cancer as allowable under the National Coverage Determination (NCD) 90.2, under section D describing Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) discretion for coverage. This policy’s scope is specific for solid tumor testing, and is exclusive of hematologic malignancies, circulating tumor DNA testing (ctDNA), and other cancer-related uses of NGS, such as germline testing in/for patients with cancer.

Summary of Evidence

Summary of Evidence

NGS testing in solid tumors is becoming a routine component of the diagnostic process1; the results can uncover the genomic mechanisms of cancer that have predictive, diagnostic, and prognostic utility to the patient and are used to better their management.2 Understanding the mechanisms of disease and targeting treatment based on those aberrant processes (i.e., targeted therapies for biomarkers) has improved patient outcomes in many tumor types and is the basis of Precision Medicine.3 Capturing mutations and other relevant genetic/genomic information is standard of care for determining clinical care for many tumor types, including the most common, such as melanoma, lung, colorectal, and breast carcinoma.4-7 NGS adds the ability to capture abundant genomic data both efficiently, and relatively cheaply, and its use is showing to improve patient outcomes although studies in this regard are ongoing.8 The established Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage policy NCD 90.2 confirms these tests to be both reasonable and necessary in Medicare beneficiaries.

Professional Society Clinical Practice Guidelines

Guidelines for validating clinical NGS tests for use in cancer have been published in a joint effort by the Association for Molecular Pathology and the College of American Pathologists.9 Guidelines for employing bioinformatics pipelines for NGS testing have also been published by these groups,10 as well as guidelines for interpreting somatic variants in these panels (these same groups in collaboration with the American Society of Clinical Oncology).11

Guidelines from several societies currently suggest or prefer the use of NGS over other methods for lung cancer12,13 and colorectal cancer.14,15

Additionally, societal guidelines recommend genetic testing for other tumor types that can be identified by NGS, such as melanoma, thyroid, brain, and ovarian cancers, among others.7,16-20

Test Description

NGS is not a specific test, but a sequencing methodology utilized to capture genomic information. Unlike Sanger sequencing (the prior standard technology) that typically provides sequence information for a single deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) strand/molecule, NGS allows for massively parallel sequencing of millions of DNA molecules concurrently.21,22 This allows for capturing many relevant genomic targets simultaneously, usually by utilizing capture technologies such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification or hybrid capture. As such, NGS tests for use in cancer are often comprised of gene panels whose content is either relevant to a specific tumor type or condition, or a larger panel of genes that can be used for multiple tumor types.

NGS tests can vary significantly for many reasons. While NGS defines a broad methodology for massively parallel sequencing, different technologies that have different strengths, weaknesses, and technical limitations or liabilities are available.23 The most common sequencing platforms in clinical use today are from Illumina and Thermo Fisher. While both sequence by synthesis similar to Sanger sequencing, these platforms utilize different chemistries, signal amplification, and detection methods. Gene panels can include only the portions of genes that contain the most critical clinically relevant information, or be comprehensive, containing entire exonic gene regions (coding regions), introns (non-coding regions), and even sequence ribonucleic acid (RNA) for detecting gene fusions. Downstream from the pre-analytic processes mentioned above, the bioinformatics used to process and assess the resultant sequencing reads and identifies variants/mutations which can yield different results based on the software used and what types of variants the test is attempting to detect. These software tools must take the resultant sequencing file (generally starting with the FASTQ format), align all possible sequences with a reference genome (BAM/SAM), and identify variants from the reference (typically a VCF file).10 Once such variants are identified, they must be assessed for validity and subsequently for their clinical relevance. The types of genomic information reported can vary, as tests can uncover a myriad of genomic alterations such as single nucleotide variants (SNVs), Insertions/Deletions (INDELs), Copy Number Alterations (CNAs; these can be simply amplifications at a single locus or chromosomal gains and losses), and gene fusions/translocations. The resultant information can also be used to calculate additional relevant information, such as Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB), or the presence of microsatellite instability (MSI). All of these variant classes have demonstrated clinical utility. As such, NGS testing in cancer comprises a large heterogeneous group of assays that are substantially different from each other. Additionally, NGS testing is highly complex and requires expertise from handling the specimen, to running complex equipment, to understanding the required bioinformatics, to interpreting the findings and creating an actionable medical report.

Two types of tests are considered for coverage, “Hot-spot” tests and comprehensive genomic profile (CGP) tests. The definition of these terms, in addition to appropriate coding information is located in the Coverage Articles associated with this Local Coverage Determination (LCD). These tests can detect any combination of the previously described variant types, but in general, Hot-spot tests are limited to SNVs and small INDELs, whereas CGPs can detect those variants in addition to CNAs, larger INDELs, gene fusions/translocations, and can be used to calculate MSI status and TMB.

Analytical Validity and Clinical Utility

Because of the number of variables described above, additional work must be performed to assess if any given test is both reasonable and necessary for Medicare beneficiaries and to ensure that Medicare claims are properly understood and executed. Molecular Diagnostic Services Program (MolDX®) has instituted a process for completing a Technical Assessment (TA) that ensures that tests are appropriate for their indications and are properly validated according to published guidelines described above (when applicable). Specifically, in order to understand if a test is both reasonable and necessary, it must be delineated if a test has the properly validated technology, variant types, gene and variant coverage, and bioinformatics capability to deliver a clinically useful result for the Medicare beneficiary, given their diagnosis.

Labs seeking coverage for LDTs, FDA-cleared, or FDA-approved tests that are not nationally covered utilizing NGS in cancer must submit documentation to allow MolDX® to complete a TA. Forms to complete the process are available on the MolDX® website. Tests that are currently covered by Palmetto GBA are not exempt from this process. Tests that are currently covered and have not undergone a TA by MolDX® will be non-covered unless complete documents to perform a TA are submitted in a timely manner described below.

Criteria for Coverage

All the following must be present for coverage eligibility:

  • As per NCD 90.2, this test is reasonable and necessary when:
    • the patient has either:
      • Recurrent cancer
      • Relapsed cancer
      • Refractory cancer
      • Metastatic cancer
      • Advanced cancer (stages III or IV)
    • AND has not been previously tested by the same test for the same genetic content
    • AND is seeking further treatment
  • The test has satisfactorily completed a TA by MolDX® for the stated indications of the test
  • The assay performed includes at least the minimum genes and genomic positions required for the identification of clinically relevant FDA-approved therapies with a companion diagnostic biomarker as well as other biomarkers known to be necessary for clinical decision making for its intended use that can be reasonably detected by the test. Because these genes and variants will change as the literature and drug indications evolve, they are listed separately in associated documents such as the MolDX® TA forms.

Situations in which Test should not be used or coverage is denied:

The test in question will be non-covered if:

  • It does not fulfill all the criteria set forth in the NCD 90.2 as stated above
  • Another CGP test was performed on the same tumor specimen (specimen obtained on the same date of service)
  • A TA is not completed satisfactorily by MolDX® for new tests
  • For tests that are currently covered but a TA submission has not been made, providers must submit completed TA materials by February 10th, 2020, or coverage will be denied
Analysis of Evidence (Rationale for Determination)

Level of Evidence

Quality: Strong/variable depending on biomarker and specific test
Strength: Strong/variable depending on biomarker and specific test
Weight: Strong/variable depending on biomarker and specific test

Given the abundant literature on genetic and genomic testing in cancer diagnosis and care, this contractor feels strongly that NGS methodology for testing is appropriate for use in Medicare beneficiaries. However, given the variability for what information tests can provide, additional information must be submitted by providers to ensure the contractor A) understands what test is being performed; B) Why it is being performed; C) If the test is both necessary and reasonable for cancer care for its intended use.

Proposed Process Information

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Associated Information
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Bibliography
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Contractor Advisory Committee (CAC) Meetings
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This request was MAC initiated.
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Contact for Comments on Proposed LCD

Coding Information

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ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity

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

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General Information

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Bibliography
  1. Freedman AN, Klabunde CN, Wiant K, et al. Use of next generation sequencing tests to guide cancer treatment: results from a nationally representative survey of oncologists in the United States. JCO Precis Oncol. 2018;2:1-13. doi:10.1200/PO.18.00169
  2. Zehir A, Benayed R, Shah RH, et al. Mutational landscape of metastatic cancer revealed from prospective clinical sequencing of 10,000 patients. Nat Med. 2017;23(6):703-713. 
  3. Berger MF, Mardis ER. The emerging clinical relevance of genomics in cancer medicine. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2018;15(6):353-365. doi:10.1038/s41571-018-0002-6
  4. Ahmadzada T, Kao S, Reid G, Boyer M, Mahar A, Cooper W. An update on predictive biomarkers for treatment selection in non-small cell lung cancer. J Clin Med. 2018;7(6). doi:10.3390/jcm7060153
  5. Vacante M, Borzi AM, Basile F, Biondi A. Biomarkers in colorectal cancer: current clinical utility and future perspectives. World J Clin Cases. 2018;6(15):869-881. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v6.i15.869
  6. Duffy MJ, Harbeck N, Nap M, et al. Clinical use of biomarkers in breast cancer: updated guidelines from the European Group on Tumor Markers (EGTM). Eur J Cancer. 2017;75:284-298. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2017.01.017
  7. Swetter SM, Tsao H, Bichakjian CK, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of primary cutaneous melanoma. J AM Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(1):208-250. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.08.055
  8. Morash M, Mitchell H, Beltran H, Elemento O, Pathak J. The role of next-generation sequencing in precision medicine: a review of outcomes in oncology. J Pers Med. 2018;8(3). doi:10.3390/jpm8030030
  9. Jennings LJ, Arcila ME, Corless C, et al. Guidelines for validation of next-generation sequencing-based oncology panels: a joint consensus recommendation of the Association for Molecular Pathology and College of American Pathologists. J Mol Diagn. 2017;19(3):341-365. doi:10.1016/j.jmoldx.2017.01.011
  10. Roy S, Coldren C, Karunamurthy A, et al. Standards and guidelines for validating next-generation sequencing bioinformatics pipelines: a joint recommendation of the Association for Molecular Pathology and the College of American Pathologists. J Mol Diagn. 2018;20(1):4-27. doi:10.1016/j.jmoldx.2017.11.003
  11. Li MM, Datto M, Duncavage EJ, et al. Standards and guidelines for the interpretation and reporting of sequence variants in cancer: a joint consensus recommendation of the Association for Molecular Pathology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and College of American Pathologists. J Mol Diagn. 2017;19(1):4-23. doi:10.1016/j.jmoldx.2016.10.002
  12. Lindeman NL, Cagle PT, Aisner DL, et al. Updated molecular testing guideline for the selection of lung cancer patients for treatment with targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors: guidelines from the College of American Pathologists, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and the Association for Molecular Pathology. J Thorac Oncol. 2018;13(3):323-358. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2017.12.001
  13. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines). Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Version 4.2021. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/nscl.pdf. Accessed 4/11/2023.
  14. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines). Colon Cancer. Version 2.2021. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/colon.pdf. Accessed 4/11/2023.
  15. Sepulveda AR, Hamilton SR, Allergra CJ, et al. Molecular biomarkers for the evaluation of colorectal cancer: guideline from the American Society for Clinical Pathology, College of American pathologists, Association for Molecular Pathology, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. J Clin Oncol. 2017;35(13):1453-1486. doi:10.1200/JCO.2016.71.9807
  16. Martin-Algarra S, Figueras MF, Lopez-Martin JA, et al. Guidelines for biomarker testing in metastatic melanoma: a national consensus of the Spanish Society of Pathology and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology. Clin Transl Oncol. 2013;16(4):362-373. doi:10.1007/s12094-013-1090-5
  17. Michielin O, Van Akkooi ACJ, Ascierto PA, Dummer R, Keilholz U. Cutaneous melanoma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2019;30(12):1884-1901. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdz411
  18. Haugen BR, Alexander EK, Bible KC, et al. 2015 American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for adult patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer: the American Thyroid Association Guidelines Task Force on Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. Thyroid. 2016;26(1): 1-133. doi:10.1089/thy.2015.0020
  19. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines). Central Nervous System Cancers. Version 5.2020. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/cns.pdf. Accessed 4/11/2023.
  20. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines). Ovarian Cancer. Version 1.2021. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/ovarian.pdf. Accessed 4/11/2023.
  21. Di Resta C, Galbiati S, Carrera P, Ferrari M. Next-generation sequencing approach for the diagnosis of human diseases: open challenges and new opportunities. EJIFCC. 2018;29(1):4-14. 
  22. Alekseyev YO, Fazeli R, Yang S, et al. A next-generation sequencing primer-how does it work and what can it do? Acad Pathol. 2018;5:1-11. doi:10.1177/2374289518766521
  23. Quail MA, Smith M, Coupland P, et al. A tale of three next generation sequencing platforms: comparison of ion torrent, pacific biosciences and 6llumine miseq sequencers. BMC Genomics. 2012;13:341. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-13-341

Revision History Information

Revision History Date Revision History Number Revision History Explanation Reasons for Change
06/08/2023 R3

Under CMS National Coverage Policy updated section heading. Under Bibliography changes were made to citations to reflect AMA citation guidelines. Formatting, punctuation, and typographical errors were corrected throughout the LCD. Acronyms were inserted where appropriate throughout the LCD.

  • Provider Education/Guidance
06/24/2021 R2

Under CMS National Coverage Policy removed regulation Pub 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, §80.2. Clinical Laboratory services. Under Bibliography changes were made to citations to reflect AMA citation guidelines. Formatting, punctuation and typographical errors were corrected throughout the LCD. Acronyms were inserted where appropriate throughout the LCD.

  • Provider Education/Guidance
03/05/2020 R1

No changes in coverage were made, but language was amended to comply with CMS NCD 90.2. 

Under CMS National Coverage Policy corrected verbiage to reflect the CMS Internet-Only Manual, Pub 100-03, Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual, Chapter 1, Part 2, §90.2 Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) for Patients with Advanced Cancer. Under Summary of Evidence – Criteria for Coverage changed the bullet that reads “AND has not been previously tested by the same test with the same primary diagnosis” to “AND has not been previously tested by the same test for the same genetic content”. Under Situations in which Test should not be used or coverage is denied: changed the date from October 1st, 2019 to February 10th, 2020 in the last bullet.

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.

  • Provider Education/Guidance
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