SUPERSEDED LCD Reference Article Article

Heating Pads and Heat Lamps - Policy Article

A52502

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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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General Information

Source Article ID
N/A
Article ID
A52502
Original ICD-9 Article ID
A47980
A48140
A48071
A48008
Article Title
Heating Pads and Heat Lamps - Policy Article
Article Type
Article
Original Effective Date
10/01/2015
Revision Effective Date
01/01/2020
Revision Ending Date
N/A
Retirement Date
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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

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”).

Heating pads are covered under the Durable Medical Equipment benefit (Social Security Act §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 also must be met.

A nonelectric heating pad or wrap (A9273) does not meet the definition of durable medical equipment (DME) and will be denied as noncovered.

Hydrocollator units (E0225, E0239) are considered institutional equipment and will be denied as statutorily noncovered.

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 link will be located here once it is available.

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.

CODING GUIDELINES

A standard electric heating pad (E0210) is a flexible device containing electric resistive elements producing heat. It must have a fabric cover. It must have a timing device for automatic shut-off. It may include heat-retaining material (e.g., gel, fluid, vegetable matter). If so, the heat retaining materials must be contained in an enclosed pouch or bag in or around the heating elements. The heating pad must be certified by an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) (29 CFR 1910.7). A heating pad that includes a cover or other element that utilizes water vapor (humidity) drawn from the air to create moisture when heated is billed using this code.

A moist electric heating pad (E0215) is a flexible device containing electric resistive elements producing heat. It must have a fabric cover. It must have a timing device for automatic shut-off. It must have a component that absorbs and retains liquid water. The water containing element must be protected from contact with the electrical components and the water must be in direct contact with the skin on application. The heating pad must be certified by an OSHA NRTL (29 CFR 1910.7). A cover or other element that utilizes water vapor (humidity) drawn from the air to create moisture when heated does not meet the definition of this code. Water must be added to the device to meet the description of this code.

A water circulating heat pad with pump (E0217) is a flexible pad containing a series of channels through which water is circulated by means of an electrical pumping mechanism. The water is heated in an external reservoir. The pump, pad, and all accessories needed for the pad to be functional are included in the code. The device must be certified by an OSHA NRTL (29 CFR 1910.7).

A hydrocollator unit (E0225, E0239) is a container which is filled with water and then heated. Bags of silicone dioxide or other material are placed in the heated water. These packs/pads are then applied to the body part over towels. They are used to heat the body part prior to physical therapy.

Code E0249 is a durable replacement pad used with a water circulating heat pump system (E0217). It is made of rubber, heavy plastic, or durable fabric. It can be cleaned and is designed for long term use. A replacement pad made of other material that is designed for shorter term use must be billed using code A9999 (Miscellaneous DME supply or accessory, not otherwise specified).

Heating pads that do not meet the coding criteria described above for E0210, E0215 or E0217 must be billed with code E1399.

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

Bill Type Codes

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Revenue Codes

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CPT/HCPCS Codes

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CPT/HCPCS Modifiers

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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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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.

Code Description

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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
01/01/2020 R6

Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2020
CODING GUIDELINES:
Revised: References to Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory references, to include acronyms

04/01/2021: 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.

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
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”

02/06/2020: 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:
Revised: Certifying entities

01/31/2019: 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: New reference language and directions to Standard Documentation Requirements
RELATED LOCAL COVERAGE DOCUMENTS:
Added: LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Language Article
07/01/2016 R2 Revision Effective Date: 07/01/2016
Updated: Title to remove effective date
07/01/2016 R1 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.
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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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Rules and Regulations URLs
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CMS Manual Explanations URLs
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Public Versions
Updated On Effective Dates Status
04/07/2022 01/01/2020 - N/A Currently in Effect View
03/26/2021 01/01/2020 - N/A Superseded You are here
01/30/2020 01/01/2020 - N/A Superseded View
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