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 – 00337N
Addition of ICD-9-CM 783.0, Anorexia, as a covered indication for the Thyroid Testing National Coverage Determination
From: Steve E. Phurrough, MD, MPA
Director, Coverage and Analysis Group
Louis Jacques, MD
Division 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 783.0, Anorexia, to the Thyroid Testing National Coverage Determination
Date: October 3, 2006
I. Decision
CMS has determined that ICD-9-CM diagnosis code 783.0, Anorexia, flows from the existing narrative for conditions for which Thyroid Testing is reasonable and necessary. We shall modify the list of “ICD-9-CM Codes Covered by Medicare Program” in the NCD for Thyroid Testing by adding 783.0.
II. Background
On July 24, 2006, CMS formally accepted a request for consideration to add ICD-9-CM code 783.0 to the covered indication code list for the Thyroid Testing NCD.
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 July 24, 2006, CMS opened a coding analysis item regarding the addition of 783.0, Anorexia, as a covered indication for the Thyroid Testing National Coverage Determination (NCD). We posted a tracking sheet to the Internet (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewtrackingsheet.asp?id=191) and solicited public comment for 30 days on the appropriateness of adding code 783.0 to the list of covered codes for the Thyroid Testing NCD.
We did not receive any comments during the comment period, which ended August 23, 2006.
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 Thyroid Testing NCD narrative includes the following indication:
“Thyroid function testing may also be medically necessary in patients with metabolic disorders; malnutrition; hyperlipidemia; certain types of anemia; psychosis and non-psychotic personality disorder, unexplained depression, ophthalmologic disorders, various cardiac arrhythmias; disorders of menstruation; skin conditions, myalgias; and a wide array of signs and symptoms, including alterations in consciousness; malaise; hypothermia; symptoms of the nervous and musculoskeletal system; skin and integumentary system; nutrition and metabolism; cardiovascular; and gastrointestinal system.”
ICD-9-CM lists 783.0, Anorexia under 783, Symptoms concerning nutrition, metabolism, and development. The code description for 783.0 excludes anorexia nervosa and loss of appetite of nonorganic origin. We believe that ICD-9-CM code 783.0 flows from the narrative portion of the Thyroid Testing NCD since metabolic disorders, malnutrition, and alteration in gastrointestinal systems are often manifested by anorexia. Therefore, we determined that 783.0 should be included on the list of “ICD-9-CM Codes Covered by Medicare Program” for the Thyroid Testing NCD.
We intend to issue a recurring update to the edit module implementing the NCDs to add ICD-9-CM code 783.0 to the list of the ICD-9-CM codes covered for the Thyroid Testing NCD.
