LCD Reference Article Article

Oral Appliances for Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Policy Article

A52512

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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
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Article ID
A52512
Original ICD-9 Article ID
Not Applicable
Article Title
Oral Appliances for Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Policy Article
Article Type
Article
Original Effective Date
10/01/2015
Revision Effective Date
08/08/2021
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NON-MEDICAL 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 §1862(a)(1)(A) provisions (i.e. “reasonable and necessary”).

Oral appliances used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are covered under the Durable Medical Equipment benefit (SSA 1861(s) (6)). In order for a beneficiary’s equipment 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 must be met.

No aspect of a home sleep test, including but not limited to delivery and/or pickup of the device, may be performed by a DME supplier. This prohibition does not extend to the results of studies conducted by hospitals certified to do such tests or to tests conducted in facility-based laboratories.

Oral appliances generally are classified as dental devices and are not classified as durable medical equipment. The following items (not all-inclusive) are considered to be dental devices and will be denied as non-covered, not DME:

  • Oral occlusal appliances used to treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
  • Tongue retaining devices used to treat OSA and/or snoring
  • All oral appliances used only to treat snoring without a diagnosis of OSA
  • Oral appliances used to treat other dental conditions
  • Oral appliances that require repeated fitting and/or adjustments, beyond the first 90-days, in order to maintain fit and/or effectiveness

All follow-up care, including fitting, adjustments, modifications, professional services (not all-inclusive) required during the first 90 days after provision of the oral appliance are considered to be included in the payment for device. Claims for these will be denied as not separately payable.

After the initial 90-day period, adjustments, modifications and follow-up visits are not eligible for coverage under the DME benefit and are therefore not within the jurisdiction of the DME MAC.

Repairs are covered for items that meet the coverage criteria. To repair means to fix or mend and to put the item back in good condition after damage or wear. Repairs are covered when necessary to make the item serviceable. If the expense for repairs exceeds the estimated expense of purchasing another item, no payment can be made for the excess.

Oral appliances are eligible for replacement at the end of their 5-year reasonable useful lifetime (RUL). These items may be replaced prior to the end of the 5-year RUL in cases of loss, theft, or irreparable damage. Irreparable damage refers to a specific accident or to a natural disaster (e.g., fire, flood). Replacement due to wear-and-tear as the result of everyday use will be denied as statutorily non-covered prior to the expiration of the 5-year RUL.

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.

Treating practitioners shall document the in-person clinical evaluation in a detailed narrative note in their charts in the format that they use for other entries. The report would commonly document pertinent information about the following elements, but may include other details. Each element would not have to be addressed in every evaluation.

History

  • Signs and symptoms of sleep disordered breathing including snoring, daytime sleepiness, observed apneas, choking or gasping during sleep, morning headaches
  • Duration of symptoms
  • Validated sleep hygiene inventory such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (see Appendices of related LCD)

Physical Exam

  • Focused cardiopulmonary and upper airway system evaluation
  • Neck circumference
  • Body mass index (BMI)

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. If the requirements for the KX modifier are not met, the KX modifier must not be used.

If all of the coverage criteria have not been met, the GA or GZ modifier must be added to a claim line for the oral appliance. When there is an expectation of a medical necessity denial, 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 GA, GZ, or KX modifier will be rejected as missing information.

CODING GUIDELINES

Oral appliances are used to reposition oral and pharyngeal tissues in an effort to create and maintain a beneficiary's airway during sleep.

Mandibular advancement devices reposition the mandible in a forward position.

Tongue positioning devices reposition the tongue through the use of a vacuum-bulb or other mechanism such as bars, prongs or extensions (not all-inclusive) in a depressed and/or more anterior position.

A prefabricated oral appliance (E0485) is one, which is manufactured in quantity without a specific beneficiary in mind. A prefabricated oral appliance may be trimmed, bent, molded (with or without heat), or otherwise modified for use by a specific beneficiary (i.e., custom fitted). Any appliance that does not meet the definition of a custom fabricated oral appliance is considered prefabricated. E0485 is used for all prefabricated oral appliances used for the treatment of OSA including, but not limited to, mandibular advancement devices, tongue positioning appliances, etc.

A custom fabricated oral appliance (E0486) is one that is uniquely made for an individual beneficiary. It involves taking a full arch, negative impression of the beneficiary’s teeth, either using appropriate materials or digital images, from which a positive model is created. Basic materials are then cut, bent, and molded using the positive model in order to construct the final oral appliance. A custom fabricated oral appliance may include a prefabricated component (e.g., the joint mechanism).

HCPCS code E0486 may only be used for custom fabricated mandibular advancement devices. To be coded as E0486, custom fabricated mandibular advancement devices must meet all of the criteria below:

  • Have a fixed mechanical hinge (see below) at the sides, front or palate; and,
  • Be able to protrude the individual beneficiary's mandible beyond the front teeth when adjusted to maximum protrusion; and,
  • Incorporate a mechanism that allows the mandible to be easily advanced by the beneficiary in increments of one millimeter or less; and,
  • Retain the adjustment setting when removed from the mouth; and,
  • Maintain the adjusted mouth position during sleep; and,
  • Remain fixed in place during sleep so as to prevent dislodging the device; and,
  • Require no return dental visits beyond the initial 90-day fitting and adjustment period to perform ongoing modification and adjustments in order to maintain effectiveness (see below)

A fixed hinge is defined as a mechanical joint, containing an inseparable pivot point. Interlocking flanges, tongue and groove mechanisms, hook and loop or hook and eye clasps, elastic straps or bands, mono-block articulation, traction-based articulation, compression-based articulation, etc. (not all-inclusive) do not meet this requirement.

Items that require repeated adjustments and modification beyond the initial 90-day fitting and adjustment period in order to maintain fit and/or effectiveness are not eligible for classification as DME. These items are considered as dental therapies, which are not eligible for reimbursement, by Medicare under the DME benefit. They must not be coded using E0486.

Custom fabricated mandibular advancement devices that do not incorporate all of the criteria above must use HCPCS code A9270 (NON-COVERED ITEM OR SERVICE). Do not use HCPCS code E0486.

Tongue positioning appliances are coded A9270.

Oral appliances used to treat snoring without a diagnosis of OSA established with a sleep test as described in the LCD are coded A9270 (NON-COVERED ITEM OR SERVICE).

Oral occlusal appliances used to treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are coded D7880 - occlusal orthotic appliance. Claims for these devices should not be submitted to the DME MACs.

CODING VERIFICATION REVIEW

The only products which may be billed using the following list of HCPCS codes are those for which a written coding verification review (CVR) has been made by the PDAC contractor and subsequently published on the Product Classification List (PCL). Information concerning the documentation that must be submitted to the PDAC for a CVR can be found on the PDAC website or by contacting the PDAC. A PCL with products which have received a coding verification can be found on the PDAC website. The effective date of the CVR is included for each code.

Effective for claims with dates of service on or after September 1, 2011:

E0486

If a product is billed to Medicare using a HCPCS code that requires written CVR, but the product is not on the PCL for that particular HCPCS code, then the claim line will be denied as incorrect coding.

Suppliers should contact the PDAC Contractor for guidance on the correct coding of these items.

Response To Comments

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Coding Information

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Revenue Codes

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CPT/HCPCS Modifiers

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Group 1 Codes

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ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity

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Group 1 Paragraph

The presence of an ICD-10 code listed in this section is not sufficient by itself to assure coverage. Refer to the LCD section on "Coverage Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity" for other coverage criteria and payment information.

Group 1 Codes
Code Description
G47.33 Obstructive sleep apnea (adult) (pediatric)
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ICD-10-CM Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity

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All ICD-10 codes that are not specified in the preceding section.

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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.

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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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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
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Revision History Information

Revision History Date Revision History Number Revision History Explanation
08/08/2021 R10

Revision Effective Date: 08/08/2021
CODING GUIDELINES:
Removed: Coding and billing information pertaining to multifunction ventilators coded E0467
CODING VERIFICATION REVIEW:
Removed: Direction for HCPCS Code E0467 from section

05/16/2024: 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.

08/08/2021 R9

Revision Effective Date: 08/08/2021
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.

 

08/08/2021 R8

Revision Effective Date: 08/08/2021
CODING GUIDELINES:
Moved: E0486 code verification review (CVR) language to coding verification review section
Revised: Coding instructions for multifunction ventilators (E0467) (Effective 01/01/2019)
CODING VERIFICATION REVIEW:
Added: Section header and PDAC CVR information
Added: CVR requirement for products coded E0486 and E0467

11/11/2021: 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.

08/08/2021 R7

Revision Effective Date: 08/08/2021
NON-MEDICAL NECESSITY COVERAGE AND PAYMENT RULES:
Added: Language regarding no aspect of a home sleep test may be performed by a DME supplier
POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Revised: “face-to-face” to “in-person”
Revised: History elements of the treating practitioners evaluation by separating the “sleep hygiene inventory” from the “duration of symptoms” bullet
MODIFIERS:
Revised: The reference to the coverage criteria within the “Coverage Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity” section of the LCD
CODING GUIDELINES:
Revised: Coding Verification Review statement for E0486 by removing “appropriate” prior to “Product Classification List”
Added: Incorrect coding denial statement for HCPCS codes that do not receive written coding verification review
Removed: Language related to the use of HCPCS code A9270 when coding verification was not received

06/24/2021: 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.

04/03/2020 R6

Revision Effective Date: 04/03/2020
CODING GUIDELINES:
Revised: Guidance for billing HCPCS code E0467 based on DOS

07/16/2020: 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.

01/01/2020 R5

Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2020
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
POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Revised: “Physicians” to “Treating practitioners”
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”

02/13/2020: 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.

01/01/2019 R4

Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2019
CODING GUIDELINES:
Added: E0467 Coding Guidelines
Revised: Language for custom fabricated oral appliance (E0486)
ICD-10 CODES THAT ARE COVERED:
Added: Diagnosis code formerly listed in the LCD
ICD-10 CODES THAT ARE NOT COVERED:
Added: Notation excluding all unlisted diagnosis codes from coverage

04/04/2019: 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 R3 Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2017
POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Added: Face to Face clinical evaluation, Modifier requirements
CODING GUIDELINES:
Revised: Examples of articulations that do not meet the requirement of a fixed hinge.
RELATED LOCAL COVERAGE DOCUMENTS:
Added: LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Language Article
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: 01/01/2015
CODING GUIDELINES:
Revised: Coding Guidelines based on DME MAC article: “Correct Coding for Oral Appliances for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (E0486)” – Effective July, 01, 2012
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Associated Documents

Medicare BPM Ch 15.50.2 SAD Determinations
Medicare BPM Ch 15.50.2
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