Description
Documentation will be reviewed to determine whether minimally invasive surgical fusion of the sacroiliac joint met Medicare coverage criteria and was reasonable and necessary.
Affected Code(s)
27279
Applicable Policy References
1. Social Security Act (SSA), Title XVIII- Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)- Exclusions from Coverage and Medicare as a Secondary Payer
2. Social Security Act (SSA), Title XVIII- Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled, Section 1833(e)- Payment of Benefits
3. 42 CFR §405.929- Post-Payment Review
4. 42 CFR §405.930- Failure to Respond to Additional Documentation Request
5. 42 CFR §405.980- Reopening of Initial Determinations, Redeterminations, Reconsiderations, Decisions, and Reviews, (b)- Timeframes and Requirements for Reopening Initial Determinations and Redeterminations Initiated by a Contractor; and (c)- Timeframes and Requirements for Reopening Initial Determinations and Redeterminations Requested by a Party
6. 42 CFR §405.986- Good Cause for Reopening
7. Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 3- Verifying Potential Errors and Taking Corrective Actions, §§3.1- 3.6.6
8. CGS Administrators, LLC, Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L36494- Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) Fusion of the Sacroiliac (SI) Joint; Effective 2/01/2016; Retired 4/16/2025.
9. CGS Administrators, LLC, Local Coverage Article (LCA) A56535- Billing and Coding: Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) Fusion of the Sacroiliac (SI) Joint; Effective 2/01/2016; Retired 4/16/2025
10. CGS Administrators, LLC, Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L39802-Minimally Invasive Arthrodesis of the Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ); Effective 04/17/2025; Revised 05/15/2025
11. CGS Administrators, LLC, Local Coverage Article (LCA) A59682-Billing and Coding: Minimally Invasive Arthrodesis of the Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ); Effective 04/17/2025
12. CGS Administrators, LLC, Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L39383-Sacroiliac Joint Injections and Procedures; Effective 03/19/2023; Revised 04/02/2026
13. CGS, Administrators, LLC, Local Coverage Article (LCA) A59154-Billing and Coding: Sacroiliac Joint Injections and Procedures; Effective 03/19/2023; Revised 03/26/2026
14. National Government Services, Inc., LCD L36406- Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) Fusion of the Sacroiliac (SI) Joint; Effective 4/01/2016; Revised 10/10/2019
15. National Government Services, Inc., LCA A57431- Billing and Coding: Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) Fusion of the Sacroiliac (SI) Joint; Effective 10/10/2019; Revised 01/01/2026
16. Noridian Healthcare Solutions. LLC, Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L39810 – Minimally Invasive Arthrodesis of the Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ); Effective 04/17/2025; Revised 10/23/2025
17. Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC, Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L39812 – Minimally Invasive Arthrodesis of the Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ); Effective Retired 10/23/2025
18. Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC, Local Coverage Article (LCA) A59695 – Billing and Coding: Minimally Invasive Arthrodesis of the Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ); Effective 04/17/2025; Revised 01/01/2026
19. Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC, Local Coverage Article (LCAS) A59697 – Billing and Coding: Minimally Invasive Arthrodesis of the Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ); Effective 04/17/2025; Retired 10/23/2025
20. Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC, Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L39462 – Sacroiliac Joint Injections and Procedure; Effective 03/19/2023; Revised 03/05/2026
21. Palmetto GBA LCD L39025 - Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) Fusion of the Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ); Effective 7/17/2022; Revised 05/02/2023; Retired 04/16/2025
22. Palmetto GBA LCA A58739- Billing and Coding: Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) Fusion of the Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ); Effective 7/17/2022; Revised 01/01/2025; Retired 04/16/2025
23. Palmetto GBA, LCD L39797 – Minimally Invasive Arthrodesis of the Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ); Effective 04/17/2025
24. Palmetto GBA, LCA A59672 – Billing and Coding: Minimally Invasive Arthrodesis of the Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ); Effective 04/17/2025; Revised 01/01/2026
25. Palmetto GBA, LCA – LLC, Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L39402 – Sacroiliac Joint Injections and Procedures; Effective 11/28/2024
26. Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation LCD L36000- Percutaneous minimally invasive fusion/stabilization of the sacroiliac joint for the treatment of back pain; Effective 12/17/2015; Revised 6/27/2024
27. Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation LCA A57596- Billing and Coding: Percutaneous minimally invasive fusion/stabilization of the sacroiliac joint for the treatment of back pain; Effective 11/01/2019; Revised 01/01/2026
28. AMA CPT Codebook