This coding analysis does not constitute a national coverage determination (NCD). It states the intent of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue a change to the list of ICD-9-CM Codes Covered that are linked to one of the negotiated laboratory NCDs. This decision will be announced in an upcoming recurring update notification in accordance with CMS Pub 100-4, Chapter 16, Section 120.2 and will become effective as of the date listed in the transmittal that announces the revision.
To: Administrative File: CAG – 327N Addition of ICD-9-CM 289.81, Primary Hypercoagulable State as a
covered indication for the Partial Thromboplastin Time NCD
From: Steve E. Phurrough, MD, MPA
Director, Coverage and Analysis Group
Louis Jacques, MD
Director, Division of Items and Devices
Maria Ciccanti, RN
Lead Analyst, Division of Items and Devices
James Rollins, MD, PhD, MSHA
Lead Medical Officer, Division of Items and Devices
Subject: Addition of ICD-9-CM 289.81, Primary Hypercoagulable State, as a covered indication for the Partial Thromboplastin Time NCD
Date: May 31, 2006
I. Decision
CMS has determined that ICD-9-CM diagnosis code 289.81, Primary hypercoagulable state, flows from the existing narrative for conditions for which a Partial Thromboplastin Time is reasonable and necessary. We shall modify the list of “ICD-9-CM Codes Covered by Medicare Program” in the NCD for Partial Thromboplastin Time by adding code 289.81.
II. Background
The partial thromboplastin time (PTT) is a commonly performed test of the intrinsic coagulation pathway. It is also used to monitor heparin therapy.
III. History of Medicare Coverage
In accordance with section 4554 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, CMS entered into negotiations with the laboratory community regarding coverage and administrative policies for clinical diagnostic laboratory services. As part of these negotiations, we promulgated a rule that included 23 NCDs. The rule was proposed in the March 10, 2000 edition of the Federal Register (65 FR 13082) and was made final on November 23, 2001 (66 FR 58788). The final rule called for a 12-month delay in effectuating the NCDs in accordance with the recommendations of the negotiating committee. Thus, the NCDs became effective on November 25, 2002.
In the laboratory NCDs, CMS determined that specific tests were reasonable and necessary for certain medical indications. These decisions were evidence-based, relying on scientific literature reviewed by the negotiating committee. The NCDs contain a narrative describing the indications for which the test is reasonable and necessary. We also developed a list of ICD-9-CM codes that designate diagnoses/conditions that fit within the narrative description of indications that support the medical necessity of the test. This list is entitled “ICD-9-CM Codes Covered by Medicare,” and includes codes where there is a presumption of medical necessity.
In addition, we developed two other ICD-9-CM code lists. The second list is entitled “ICD-9-CM Codes Denied,” and lists diagnosis codes that are never covered by Medicare. The third list is entitled “ICD-9-CM Codes That Do Not Support Medical Necessity,” and includes codes that generally are not considered to support a decision that the test is reasonable and necessary, but for which there are limited exceptions. Tests in this third category may be covered when they are accompanied by additional documentation that supports a determination of reasonable and necessary.
IV. Timeline of Recent Activities
On April 18, 2006, CMS opened an internally generated coding analysis item regarding the addition of ICD-9-CM 289.81 to the covered indication code list for the Partial Thromboplastin Time NCD. We posted a tracking sheet to the Internet (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewtrackingsheet.asp?id=182) and solicited public comment for 30 days on the appropriateness of adding code 289.81 to the list of covered codes for the Partial Thromboplastin Time NCD.
We received 3 public comments during the comment period, which ended May 18, 2006. All commenters were supportive of the addition.
V. General Methodological Principles
During the negotiation meetings that led to the development of the 23 clinical diagnostic laboratory NCDs, we stated our intent that the narrative of the NCDs reflect the substance of the determinations. The addition of the coding lists was intended as a convenience to the laboratories and as a means of ensuring consistency among the Medicare claims processing contractors as they interpreted the narrative conditions that support coverage. Thus, all of the codes in the covered code list must flow from the narrative indications of the NCD. We reiterated this position in the November 23, 2001 final rule (66 FR 58795) and in subsequent implementing instructions (Program Memorandum AB-02-110).
On February 25, 2005, we announced in a final notice in the Federal Register (70 FR 9355) that we would maintain the accuracy of the coding lists without substantive changes to the narrative policy through an abbreviated process that did not require scientific evidence. We call this abbreviated process the Coding Analysis for Laboratories (CAL).
VI. CMS Analysis
The "ICD-9-CM Codes Covered by Medicare" list is intended to contain only those codes that flow from the narrative of the indication in the NCD. The Partial Thromboplastin Time NCD narrative includes the following text under indication 3:
“A PTT may be useful in evaluating patients who have a history of a condition known to be associated with the risk of hemorrhage or thrombosis that is related to the intrinsic coagulation pathway. Such abnormalities may be genetic or acquired.”
Fourteen specific examples are listed under indication 3, including:
“n. Other acquired and congenital coagulopathies as well as thrombotic states”
We believe that the ICD-9-CM code 289.81 Primary hypercoagulable state, flows from the narrative indication statements quoted above.
We intend to issue a recurring update to the edit module implementing the NCDs to add ICD-9-CM code 289.81 to the list of the ICD-9-CM codes covered for the Partial Thromboplastin Time NCD.
