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Medical Review

Medical Policies

The medical policies listed below reflect medical criteria used/developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. These medical policies do not guarantee benefits under BCBSKS member contracts.

A BCBSKS medical policy may apply to professional providers, to institutional providers or to both. That’s why the medical policy format shows separate effective dates for professional and institutional providers. It’s also why if you compare the list of professional medical policies to the list for institutional providers there could be a difference.

BCBSKS only displays the most current version of a medical policy. When updated policies become effective, prior versions are removed from this Web site.

Search Newsletters and Medical Review
Policy Title PDF Files Date Posted Effective Date
Acoustic Pharyngometers & SNAP Testing 10/06/08 10/06/08
Acne Surgery 03/01/06 04/01/06
Adult Growth Hormone 03/01/07 03/01/07
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring 07/01/05 01/01/04
Ambulatory Event Monitors and Mobile Outpatient Cardiac Telemetry 06/06/08 06/06/08
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and
Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists
Prior Authorization Criteria
02/25/08 01/01/08
Artificial Intervertebral Disc: Cervical Spine 09/23/08 09/23/08
Artificial Intervertebral Disc: Lumbar Spine 09/23/08 09/23/08
Automated Point-of-Care Devices for Nerve Conduction Testing 10/13/08 10/13/08
Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA) 06/01/06 07/01/06
Bone Mineral Density Studies 05/01/07 05/01/07
Botulinum Toxin (BT) (i.e. Botox®, Myobloc®) 07/18/08 07/18/08
BRCA I and BRCA II Testing 12/01/06 01/01/07
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) 11/01/07 11/01/07
Cardioverter - Defibrillators 10/31/08 10/31/08
Cochlear Implant 03/01/07 10/31/06
Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA) 11/01/07 07/30/07
Computed Tomography to Detect Coronary Artery Calcification 11/14/08 11/14/08
Continuous Glucose Monitoring System 09/03/08 09/03/08
Continuous Passive Motion for Home Use 06/01/07 07/01/07
COX-2 Inhibitors Prior Authorization Criteria 02/25/08 10/01/07
CTA and MRA of the Chest (excluding the Heart) 11/14/08 12/15/08
CTA and MRA of the Head, Neck, Abdomen, Pelvis and Extremities 11/14/08 12/15/08

Cymbalta®, Effexor®/venlafaxine and Effexor XR® Prior Authorization Criteria

02/25/08 01/01/08
Deep Brain Stimulation of the Thalamus 03/01/07 11/01/06
Deflux Injection for Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR) 12/30/05 02/01/06
Electrical Stimulation Devices for Home Use 06/01/06 07/01/06
Electromyography (EMG) Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) and Other Electrodiagnostic (EDX) Related Services 10/13/08 11/12/08
Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) 11/01/07 11/01/07
Equipment for Cold Therapy 08/01/05 07/01/04
Esophageal pH Monitoring 06/30/06 05/01/06
Extended Fundus Photography (i.e. Optomap®) 11/01/06 01/01/06
Extracorporal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) for Plantar Fasciitis 12/30/05 01/01/06
Extracranial Carotid Angioplasty/Stenting (CAS) 06/01/07 07/01/07

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for Acute Stress Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

11/01/07 11/01/07
Fetal Fibronectin 05/01/07 05/01/07
Functional Neuromuscular Stimulation (FNS) to Provide Ambulation 11/14/08 11/14/08
Gene Expression Assay for Breast Cancer Treatment 06/01/07 07/01/07
High Dose Rate (HDR) Breast Brachytherapy with HDR Radioactive Source via MammoSite Catheter 06/01/07 07/01/07
Home Phototherapy 03/01/07 04/01/07
Homocysteine Testing 08/01/05 04/01/04
Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Therapy 05/03/04 08/29/03
Immune Globulin Therapy (IVIG) 03/01/07 04/01/07

Implanted Peripheral Nerve Stimulator (PNS) for Pain Control

11/13/07 11/13/07
Insulin Pump 12/29/06 02/01/07
Intra-articular Hyaluronan Injections for Osteoarthritis of the Knee 06/01/07 07/01/07
Laser Assisted Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (LAUP) 12/30/05 02/01/06
LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) 11/01/07 02/15/07
Liver Tumors, Treatment of 06/30/06 08/01/06
Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) 03/31/06 05/01/06
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Breast 03/01/07 01/01/07
Minimally Invasive Procedures for Spine Pain 12/01/06 01/01/07
Monitored and General Anesthesia Services          05/01/07 01/01/07
Nuchal Translucency 03/30/07 01/01/07
Oscillation Vest, Chest 12/29/06 02/01/07
Pachymetry 12/30/05 02/01/06
Panniculectomy and Abdominoplasty 03/01/07 03/01/07
Pediatric Growth Hormone 07/18/08 08/18/08
Polysomnography and Sleep Studies 01/25/08 12/13/07
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) 05/01/07 05/01/07
Radiofrequency Ablation of Miscellaneous Solid Tumors Excluding Liver Tumors 08/22/08 08/22/08
Regional Nerve Blocks and General Anesthesia 09/30/05 11/01/05
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) 05/01/07 06/01/07
Rhinomanometry & Acoustic/Optical Rhinometry 10/06/08 10/06/08
Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (SLO) for Glaucoma and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for Retinal Conditions 09/25/07 11/01/07
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Prior Authorization Criteria 02/25/08 01/01/08
Sensorimotor and Neurobehavioral Status Exams for Optometric Providers 12/30/05 01/01/06
Serum Antibodies for the Diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease 10/06/08 11/05/08
Stereotactic Radiosurgery 03/30/07 04/01/07
Transcatheter Radiofrequency Ablation as a Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation 08/09/07 05/02/07
Transplantation for Chondral Defects 09/01/06 10/01/06
Tumor Markers CA-15-3 and CA-27.29 07/01/05 07/01/03
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and Tongue Base Reduction Surgery 12/01/06 01/01/07
Vacuum Assisted Wound Closure (VAC) 05/15/07 06/15/07
Vagus Nerve Stimulation 10/09/08 10/08/08
Varicose Veins Guidelines 07/18/08 07/18/08
Video EEG Monitoring 12/29/06 02/01/07
Virtual Colonoscopy 06/01/07 07/01/07
Water-Induced Thermotherapy for Benign Prostate Hypertrophy (BPH) 12/30/05 02/01/06
Wireless Capsule Endoscopy 03/01/07 01/01/07
Wound Care: Skin Substitutes and Growth Factors 11/14/08 05/21/08
Xolair Prior Authorization Criteria 09/05/08 09/05/08