LCD Reference Article Article

Pressure Reducing Support Surfaces - Group 1 - Policy Article

A52489

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Draft Article
Draft Articles are works in progress and not necessarily a reflection of the current billing and coding practices. Revisions to codes are carefully and thoroughly reviewed and are not intended to change the original intent of the LCD.

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Source Article ID
N/A
Article ID
A52489
Original ICD-9 Article ID
Not Applicable
Article Title
Pressure Reducing Support Surfaces - Group 1 - Policy Article
Article Type
Article
Original Effective Date
10/01/2015
Revision Effective Date
05/01/2021
Revision Ending Date
N/A
Retirement 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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CMS National Coverage Policy

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Article Text

NONMEDICAL NECESSITY COVERAGE AND PAYMENT RULES

For any item to be covered by Medicare, it must 1) be eligible for a defined Medicare benefit category, 2) be reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member, and 3) meet all other applicable Medicare statutory and regulatory requirements. Information provided in this policy article relates to determinations other than those based on Social Security Act Section 1862(a)(1)(A) provisions (i.e. "reasonable and necessary").

Pressure-reducing support surfaces are covered under the Durable Medical Equipment benefit (Social Security Act Section 1861(s)(6)). In order for a beneficiary’s DME to be eligible for reimbursement, the reasonable and necessary (R&N) requirements set out in the related Local Coverage Determination must be met. In addition, there are specific statutory payment policy requirements, discussed below, that also must be met.

A foam overlay or mattress which does not have a waterproof cover is not considered durable and will be denied as non-covered.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC DMEPOS ITEMS PURSUANT TO Final Rule 1713 (84 Fed. Reg Vol 217)

Final Rule 1713 (84 Fed. Reg Vol 217) requires a face-to-face encounter and a Written Order Prior to Delivery (WOPD) for specified HCPCS codes. CMS and the DME MACs provide a list of the specified codes, which is periodically updated. The required Face-to-Face Encounter and Written Order Prior to Delivery List is available here.

Claims for the specified items subject to Final Rule 1713 (84 Fed. Reg Vol 217) that do not meet the face-to-face encounter and WOPD requirements specified in the LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Article (A55426) will be denied as not reasonable and necessary.

If a supplier delivers an item prior to receipt of a WOPD, it will be denied as not reasonable and necessary. If the WOPD is not obtained prior to delivery, payment will not be made for that item even if a WOPD is subsequently obtained by the supplier. If a similar item is subsequently provided by an unrelated supplier who has obtained a WOPD, it will be eligible for coverage.


POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to policy specific documentation requirements, there are general documentation requirements that are applicable to all DMEPOS policies. These general requirements are located in the DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS section of the LCD.

Refer to the LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements article, located at the bottom of this Policy Article under the Related Local Coverage Documents section for additional information regarding GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS and the POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS discussed below.


RELATED CLINICAL INFORMATION

A beneficiary needing a pressure reducing support surface should have a care plan which has been established by the beneficiary's treating practitioner or home care nurse, which is documented in the beneficiary's medical records, and which generally should include the following:

  1. Education of the beneficiary and caregiver on the prevention and/or management of pressure ulcers
  2. Regular assessment by a nurse, treating practitioner, or other licensed healthcare practitioner
  3. Appropriate turning and positioning
  4. Appropriate wound care (for a stage 2, 3 or 4 ulcer)
  5. Appropriate management of moisture/incontinence
  6. Nutritional assessment and intervention consistent with the overall plan of care


MODIFIERS

KX, GA AND GZ MODIFIERS

Suppliers must add a KX modifier to a code only if all of the criteria in the "Coverage Indications, Limitations and/or Medical Necessity" section of the related LCD have been met and evidence of such is maintained in the supplier's files. This information must be available upon request.

If all of the criteria in the Coverage Indications, Limitations and/or Medical Necessity section have not been met, the GA or GZ modifier must be added to the code. When there is an expectation of a denial as not reasonable and necessary, suppliers must enter the GA modifier on the claim line if they have obtained a properly executed Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) or the GZ modifier if they have not obtained a valid ABN.

Claim lines billed without a KX, GA, or GZ modifier will be rejected as missing information.

When code E1399 is billed, the claim must include a narrative description of the item, the manufacturer, the product name/number, and information justifying the medical necessity for the item.


CODING GUIDELINES

Codes E0185, E0197, E0198 and E0199 termed "pressure pad for mattress" describe nonpowered pressure reducing mattress overlays. These devices are designed to be placed on top of a standard hospital or home mattress.

A gel/gel-like mattress overlay (E0185) is characterized by a gel or gel-like layer with a height of 2 inches or greater.

An air mattress overlay (E0197) is characterized by interconnected air cells having a cell height of 3 inches or greater that are inflated with an air pump.

A water mattress overlay (E0198) is characterized by a filled height of 3 inches or greater.

A foam mattress overlay (E0199) is characterized by all of the following:

  1. Base thickness of 2" or greater and peak height of 3" or greater if it is a convoluted overlay (e.g., eggcrate) or an overall height of at least 3 inches if it is a non-convoluted overlay, and
  2. Foam with a density and other qualities that provide adequate pressure reduction, and
  3. Durable, waterproof cover

Codes E0184, E0186, E0187 and E0196 describe nonpowered pressure reducing mattresses.

A foam mattress (E0184) is characterized by all of the following:

  1. Foam height of 5 inches or greater, and
  2. Foam with a density and other qualities that provide adequate pressure reduction, and
  3. Durable, waterproof cover, and
  4. Can be placed directly on a hospital bed frame

An air, water or gel mattress (E0186, E0187, E0196) is characterized by all of the following:

  1. Height of 5 inches or greater of the air, water, or gel layer (respectively), and
  2. Durable, waterproof cover, and
  3. Can be placed directly on a hospital bed frame

Codes E0181, E0182, and A4640 describe powered pressure reducing mattress overlay systems (alternating pressure or low air loss). They are characterized by all of the following:

  1. An air pump or blower which provides either sequential inflation and deflation of air cells or a low interface pressure throughout the overlay, and
  2. Inflated cell height of the air cells through which air is being circulated is 2.5 inches or greater, and
  3. Height of the air chambers, proximity of the air chambers to one another, frequency of air cycling (for alternating pressure overlays), and air pressure provide adequate patient lift, reduce pressure and prevent bottoming out

A foam overlay or mattress which does not have a waterproof cover should be coded using A9270. Other Group 1 support surfaces which do not meet the characteristics specified in this section should be billed using code E1399.

Alternating pressure mattress overlays or low air loss mattress overlays are coded using codes E0181, E0182, and A4640.

Code A4640 or E0182 should only be billed when they are provided as replacement components for a beneficiary-owned E0181 mattress overlay system.

A Column II code is included in the allowance for the corresponding Column I code when provided at the same time.
 

Column I Column II
E0181 A4640, E0182


Suppliers should contact the Pricing, Data Analysis and Coding (PDAC) Contractor for guidance on the correct coding of these items.

Response To Comments

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Coding Information

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CPT/HCPCS Modifiers

Group 1

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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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ICD-10-PCS Codes

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Additional ICD-10 Information

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Bill Type Codes

Contractors may specify Bill Types to help providers identify those Bill Types typically used to report this service. Absence of a Bill Type does not guarantee that the article does not apply to that Bill Type. Complete absence of all Bill Types indicates that coverage is not influenced by Bill Type and the article should be assumed to apply equally to all claims.

Code Description

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Revenue Codes

Contractors may specify Revenue Codes to help providers identify those Revenue Codes typically used to report this service. In most instances Revenue Codes are purely advisory. Unless specified in the article, services reported under other Revenue Codes are equally subject to this coverage determination. Complete absence of all Revenue Codes indicates that coverage is not influenced by Revenue Code and the article should be assumed to apply equally to all Revenue Codes.

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Other Coding Information

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Group 1 Codes

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Coding Table Information

Excluded CPT/HCPCS Codes - Table Format
Code Descriptor Generic Name Descriptor Brand Name Exclusion Effective Date Exclusion End Date Reason for Exclusion
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Non-Excluded CPT/HCPCS Ended Codes - Table Format
Code Descriptor Generic Name Descriptor Brand Name Exclusion Effective Date Exclusion End Date Reason for Exclusion
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Revision History Information

Revision History Date Revision History Number Revision History Explanation
05/01/2021 R8

Revision Effective Date: 05/01/2021
REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC DMEPOS ITEMS PURSUANT TO FINAL RULE 1713 (84 FED. REG VOL 217):
Removed: “The link will be located here once it is available.”
Added: “The required Face-to-Face Encounter and Written Order Prior to Delivery List is available here.” with a hyperlink to the list

04/14/2022: At this time the 21st Century Cures Act applies to new and revised LCDs which require comment and notice. This revision is to an article that is not a local coverage determination.

05/01/2021 R7

Revision Effective Date: 05/01/2021
RELATED CLINICAL INFORMATION:
Revised: Roman to Arabic numerals in staging scheme

03/18/2021: At this time 21st Century Cures Act applies to new and revised LCDs which require comment and notice. This revision is to an article that is not a local coverage determination.

01/01/2020 R6

Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2020
REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC DMEPOS ITEMS PURSUANT TO 42 CFR 410.38(g):
Remove: Entire section based on Final Rule 1713
REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC DMEPOS ITEMS PURSUANT TO FINAL RULE 1713 (84 Fed. Reg Vol 217):
Added: Section and related information based on Final Rule 1713
RELATED CLINICAL INFORMATION:
Revised: “physician” to “treating practitioner”
CODING GUIDELINES:
Revised: Format of HCPCS code references, from code spans to individually-listed HCPCS
ICD-10 CODES THAT SUPPORT MEDICAL NECESSITY:
Revised: Section header “ICD-10 Codes that are Covered” updated to “ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity”
ICD-10 CODES THAT DO NOT SUPPORT MEDICAL NECESSITY:
Revised: Section header “ICD-10 Codes that are Not Covered” updated to “ICD-10 Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity”

02/27/2020: At this time 21st Century Cures Act applies to new and revised LCDs which require comment and notice. This revision is to an article that is not a local coverage determination.

01/01/2017 R5

02/07/2019: At this time 21st Century Cures Act applies to new and revised LCDs which require comment and notice. This is an article and not a local coverage determination.

 

01/01/2017 R4 Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2017
NON-MEDICAL NECESSITY COVERAGE AND PAYMENT RULES:
Added: 42 CFR 410.38(g)
POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Added: Related Clinical Information and Modifier requirements
RELATED LOCAL COVERAGE DOCUMENTS:
Added: LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Language Article
07/01/2016 R3 Revision Effective Date: 07/01/2016
NON-MEDICAL NECESSITY COVERAGE AND PAYMENT RULES:
Revised Standard Language to add Statutory Prescription (Order) Requirements, revised Face to Face and ACA requirements (Effective 04/28/2016)
07/01/2016 R2 Effective July 1, 2016 oversight for DME MAC Articles is the responsibility of CGS Administrators, LLC 18003 and 17013 and Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC 19003 and 16013. No other changes have been made to the Articles.
10/01/2015 R1 Revision Effective Date: 10/31/2014
NON-MEDICAL NECESSITY COVERAGE AND PAYMENT RULES:
Removed: "When required by state law" from ACA new prescription requirements
Revised: Face-to-Face Requirements for treating practitioner
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Associated Documents

Medicare BPM Ch 15.50.2 SAD Determinations
Medicare BPM Ch 15.50.2
Related National Coverage Documents
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SAD Process URL 1
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SAD Process URL 2
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Statutory Requirements URLs
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Public Versions
Updated On Effective Dates Status
04/07/2022 05/01/2021 - N/A Currently in Effect You are here
03/12/2021 05/01/2021 - N/A Superseded View
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