Using the MCD

Start your search on the MCD webpage.

Click on the search bar and enter:

• keywords
• CPT
• HCPCS
• ICD-10-CM codes
• A document ID

The video below shows a search for the keyword cardiac. Note: The question mark icon in the upper right will pulse each time you land on the MCD page.

Top Navigation Bar

You can see the top navigation bar while you search and access each MCD page. Hover your cursor over an option, and you’ll see an underline appear under the option.

The video below shows the cursor hovering over each option, and an underline that appears underneath.

Throughout the database, the Back to Top arrow icon appears in the lower right corner of your page. Click it to quickly view the top of the MCD.

The Search option allows you to explore national and local coverage documents using criteria such as keyword, code, or document ID. You can learn more about search options in the Search section. The Reports tab in the top navigation bar includes a dropdown menu where you can select National Coverage and Local Coverage reports. You can learn more about accessing reports in the Reports section.

MCD Archive

You can find the Archive section by following the link to the Archive page next to the white gear icon for Settings. The MCD Archive allows you to find and read articles that are no longer in effect.

Basket

Save documents from your search using the Basket tool. After you complete your search, you can view the documents or email them.

The video below shows where to find the Basket tool and how to click it, and the documents you saved in the Basket.

Add to Basket Function

You can add items to the Basket from the list of search results.

The video below shows the option to select documents and add them to the Basket by clicking the Basket icon in the Basket icon column. Click the Basket button for each corresponding article to add the item to the Basket. The Contract Type now appears under the contractor name in the Contractor column, when Local Coverage documents appear in search results.

The Basket icon changes from grey to blue when you add a document to your Basket.

To view the items in your Basket, click the Basket icon in the navigation bar.

Email Basket Function

To email all the documents in your Basket, click the Email Basket button.

The video below shows how to use the Email Basket button to send items in the Basket to any email account.

Empty Basket Function

To empty the Basket, click the Trash Can icon at the top of the Empty Basket column to remove all contents.

The video below shows how to empty the Basket by clicking the Trash Can icon at the top of column to clear each item from the Basket.

To remove 1 or more documents, click the Trash Can icon in the document’s listing in your Basket.

The video below shows how to remove 1 item from the Basket by clicking the Trash Can icon in the row of the article you want to remove.

Once you click the Trash Can icon, you remove the document from the Basket.

The video below shows how to email the Basket contents and then click the Trash Can icon in the column to clear each article from the Basket.

MCD Document Types

The Medicare Coverage Database (MCD) is a searchable repository that has information related to what’s covered and not covered by Original Medicare. The documents in the database describe coverage at the national and local level. We list and describe document types briefly below. Find the Medicare Coverage Descriptions document on the Help & Resources page for more information on document types.

National Coverage Documents

National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) are national policy granting, limiting, or excluding Medicare coverage for a specific medical item or service.

Coding Analyses for Labs (CAL) is an abbreviated process, like the National Coverage Determination (NCD) process, for making changes to the coding component of the negotiated laboratory NCDs.

National Coverage Analysis (NCA) is a collection of documents that support the new review or a reconsideration of an NCD.

Medicare established the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) process to give independent guidance and expert advice to CMS on specific clinical topics. We use it to supplement our internal expertise and to ensure an unbiased and contemporary consideration of “state-of-the-art” technology and science.

A comprehensive Technology Assessment (TA) process supports each NCD and focuses on the quality of the evidence for a given technology.

CMS publishes Medicare Coverage Documents to help to relay coverage related information nationally.

Local Coverage Documents

A Local Coverage Determination (LCD) is a decision made by a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) whether a particular service or item is reasonable and necessary, and therefore covered by Medicare within the specific jurisdiction of the MAC.

Before an LCD becomes final, the MAC publishes Proposed LCDs, which include a public comment period. For Proposed LCDs approved to display on the MCD on January 1, 2022, or later, we display an LCD Tracking Sheet as a pop-up, overlaying the Proposed LCD, which it supports.

Local coverage Articles are a type of educational document published by the MACs. Articles often contain coding or other guidelines related to a LCD.

Draft articles are written in support of a Proposed LCD. Once Medicare releases the Proposed LCD as a final LCD, a Billing and Coding article replaces the draft article.

The Help Icon: Help & Resources

Find the Help & Resources page by clicking the question mark icon.

When you click the Help icon, in addition to the option of selecting the Help & Resources page, you can find a page-specific Page Help option, a Tour the Search option, a Tour the Reports option, and a Contact Us page.

You can follow along with the page tours by selecting either the Tour the Search or Tour the Reports options. If you have any questions, email us by selecting the Contact Us option.

The video below shows how to access the Help & Resources page by using the question mark icon in the upper right corner and selecting Help & Resources from the dropdown menu.

From there, you can find MCD data and archive information, including a How To Library, schedules, and other applications. Also, you can take a guided tour of the search feature by selecting Tour the Search.

The Settings Icon

The Settings icon, a white gear symbol to the right of the Help icon, gives you the choice to reset your search data. When you click it, the page explains that clicking OK resets the MCD search data, if the cache of search data didn’t refresh properly. The MCD should refresh automatically, but in case you would like to manually reset the cache, you can any time you choose.

The video below shows how to hover the cursor over each subject on the Help & Resources page and select the option you need.

On the Help & Resources page, the first tile option, Latest Site Updates, offers a full list of the newest features and updates you can find in the MCD. The other tiles include the Notice Board, the How To Library, MCD Data Schedule, the MCD Archive, Related Links, MCD vs Medicare.gov, and Local Coverage Info. The last tile option, the Coverage Document Descriptions, offers a handy guide that explains each type of document you can find in the MCD.

The MCD offers a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) modal. Access the feature by clicking on the Submit Feedback link on the bottom of every page or by selecting the Contact Us option in the Help icon of the navigation bar. Find answers to most of your questions there or submit feedback from the new modal.

Page Help

The MCD offers a Page Help option under the Help icon in the top right corner of each MCD webpage, inside the navigation bar. You can click the Page Help option for assistance about the current MCD page.

The video below shows how to find the Page Help option under the Help question mark icon.

The video below shows sample content found in the Page Help option for the MCD Search page.

The video below shows the Page Help page from the MCD Reports option.