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Horizon BCBSNJ
Uniform Medical Policy ManualSection:Surgery
Policy Number:001
Effective Date: 08/25/2020
Original Policy Date:07/01/1993
Last Review Date:08/11/2020
Date Published to Web: 01/29/2019
Subject:
Cosmetic Procedures

Description:
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IMPORTANT NOTE:

The purpose of this policy is to provide general information applicable to the administration of health benefits that Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Horizon Healthcare of New Jersey, Inc. (collectively “Horizon BCBSNJ”) insures or administers. If the member’s contract benefits differ from the medical policy, the contract prevails. Although a service, supply or procedure may be medically necessary, it may be subject to limitations and/or exclusions under a member’s benefit plan. If a service, supply or procedure is not covered and the member proceeds to obtain the service, supply or procedure, the member may be responsible for the cost. Decisions regarding treatment and treatment plans are the responsibility of the physician. This policy is not intended to direct the course of clinical care a physician provides to a member, and it does not replace a physician’s independent professional clinical judgment or duty to exercise special knowledge and skill in the treatment of Horizon BCBSNJ members. Horizon BCBSNJ is not responsible for, does not provide, and does not hold itself out as a provider of medical care. The physician remains responsible for the quality and type of health care services provided to a Horizon BCBSNJ member.

Horizon BCBSNJ medical policies do not constitute medical advice, authorization, certification, approval, explanation of benefits, offer of coverage, contract or guarantee of payment.

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Procedures to alter appearance of body parts that are not functionally impaired. They are generally performed to modify appearance.

Policy:
(NOTE: For Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and FIDE-SNP, please refer to the Coverage Sections below for coverage guidance.)

1. Cosmetic procedures are not considered eligible for coverage. This includes treatments, drugs, biological products, hospital charges, anesthesia, pathology, radiology fees, and charges by the surgeon, assistant surgeon, and attending physicians.

Procedures considered cosmetic include, but are not limited to, the following:
    • Abrasion of lesions
    • Augmentation mammaplasty with or without prosthetic implant
    • Canthopexy (medial and lateral)
    • Cervicoplasty
    • Chemical exfoliation for acne
    • Chemical peel (any part of the body)
    • Dermabrasion (any part of the body)
    • Ear/body piercing
    • Excision of excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (including lipectomy) any part of the body
    • Mastectomy for gynecomastia
      [See "Mastectomy for Gynecomastia" under the Surgery Section: Policy #27.]
    • Otoplasty for protruding ear
    • Punch graft for hair transplant
    • Rhytidectomy
    • Salabrasion
    • Subcutaneous injection of filling material
    • Suction assisted lipectomy (any part of the body)

2. Reconstructive surgery and/or reconstructive procedures may be considered medically necessary when performed primarily to restore or improve the way the body works or correct deformities that results from disease, trauma or birth defects. In the absence of documentation showing medical necessity, the procedure is considered cosmetic. This includes, but is not limited to, the following procedures:
Breast:
    • Immediate or delayed insertion of breast prosthesis following mastopexy
    • Insertion and replacement of tissue expanders other than breast
    • Mastopexy
    • Nipple/areola reconstruction
      [See "Post-Mastectomy Reconstructive Breast Surgery" under the Surgery Section: Policy #11.]
    • Open periprosthetic capsulotomy of the breast
    • Periprosthetic capsulotomy of the breast
    • Reduction mammaplasty
      [See "Reduction Mammaplasty" under the Surgery Section: Policy #28.]
    • Revision of reconstructed breast
    • Tattooing (Informational Note: Nipple/areola reconstruction includes nipple/areolar tattooing is considered medically necessary following mastectomy.)
    [See "Post-Mastectomy Reconstructive Breast Surgery" under the Surgery Section: Policy #11.]
    Head and Neck
    • Blepharoplasty (upper and lower eyelids)
        [See "Blepharoplasty" under the Surgery Section: Policy #24
      • Radial keratotomy
        [See "Refractive Keratoplasty Procedures" under the Surgery Section: Policy #15.
      • Repair of blepharoptosis
        [See "Blepharoplasty" under the Surgery Section: Policy #24.]
      • Repair of brow ptosis
        [See "Blepharoplasty" under the Surgery Section: Policy #24.
      • Repair of ectropion or entropion with blepharoplasty (for indications other than ectropion or entropion)
        [See "Blepharoplasty" under the Surgery Section: Policy #24.]
      • Rhinoplasty (primary and secondary other than congenital cleft lip and/or palate)
        [See "Rhinoplasty" under the Surgery Section: Policy #30.]

    Integumentary
      • Abdominoplasty
        [See “Abdominoplasty, Panniculectomy and Diastasis Muscle Repair” under the Surgery Section: Policy #25.]
      • Excision or removal of benign skin lesions including, but not limited to, keloids and scars.
        [See "Removal of Benign Skin Lesions" under the Surgery Section: Policy #8.]
    • Hair removal (electrolysis epilation, laser, intense pulsed light, or any other technique)
        [NOTE: Targeted permanent removal of ingrown hairs (i.e., by electrolysis, laser, intense pulsed light) may be considered medically necessary when the condition is recurrent and is causing symptomatic (e.g., painful, tender, infected) cysts or skin lesions such as pilonidal cysts and pseudofolliculitis barbae. Medical documentation is required to determine medical necessity.]
    Vascular
  • Injections of sclerosing solutions to spider veins (telangiectasia)
        [See "Surgical Treatment of Varicose Veins of the Lower Extremities" under the Surgery Section: Policy #33.
      • Treatment of telangiectasia such as spider veins, angiomata, and hemangiomata via any technique
    [See "Removal of Benign Skin Lesions" under the Surgery Section: Policy #8.]

    3. When the member’s contract does not exclude treatment for complications of cosmetic procedures, the following guidelines apply:
      • Procedures and/or services performed to primarily correct or enhance the result of a prior cosmetic procedure, or to achieve the intended effect of a prior cosmetic procedure are NOT deemed medically necessary.
      • Procedures and/or services performed to manage a medical complication (i.e. sepsis), or to correct a functional impairment which is a complication of or a result of a cosmetic procedure will be deemed medically necessary, and thus, covered under the contract. Applicable medical policies pertaining to the member's condition should also be consulted.


    Medicare Coverage:
    Per Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery L35090, Cosmetic surgery is performed to reshape normal structures of the body to improve the individual's appearance and self-esteem. Cosmetic surgery performed purely for the purpose of enhancing one's appearance is not eligible for coverage. However, surgery to correct congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infections, tumors or disease may be covered because the surgery is considered reconstructive in nature. For eligibility and coverage, please refer to the applicable Medicare Coverage Determinations below:

    National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Treatment of Actinic Keratosis 250.4. Available to be accessed at CMS National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) Alphabetical Index search page: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/ncd-alphabetical-index.aspx

    National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Refractive Keratoplasty 80.7. Available to be accessed at CMS National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) Alphabetical Index search page: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/ncd-alphabetical-index.aspx.

    Decision Memo for Dermal injections for the treatment of facial lipodystrophy syndrome (FLS) CAG-00412N. Available to be accessed at CMS National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) Alphabetical Index search page: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/ncd-alphabetical-index.aspx.

    Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery L35090. Available to be accessed at Novitas Solutions, Inc., Medical Policy Search page: https://www.novitas-solutions.com/webcenter/portal/MedicareJL/LcdSearch?_afrLoop=90769712476969#!%40%40%3F_afrLoop%3D90769712476969%26centerWidth%3D100%2525%26leftWidth%3D0%2525%26rightWidth%3D0%2525%26showFooter%3Dfalse%26showHeader%3Dfalse%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D63y7eftob_46.

    Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Treatment of Varicose Veins and Venous Stasis Disease of the Lower Extremities L34924. Available to be accessed at Novitas Solutions, Inc., Medical Policy Search page: https://www.novitas-solutions.com/webcenter/portal/MedicareJL/LcdSearch?_afrLoop=90769712476969#!%40%40%3F_afrLoop%3D90769712476969%26centerWidth%3D100%2525%26leftWidth%3D0%2525%26rightWidth%3D0%2525%26showFooter%3Dfalse%26showHeader%3Dfalse%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D63y7eftob_46.

    Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Surgery: Blepharoplasty L35004. Available at: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/lcd-details.aspx?LCDId=35004&ver=3&Date=01%2f14%2f2016&DocID=L35004&bc=iAAAAAgAAAAAAA%3d%3d&.

    National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Breast Reconstruction Following Mastectomy (140.2). Available to be accessed at CMS National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) Alphabetical Index search page: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/ncd-alphabetical-index.aspx.

    National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Plastic Surgery to Correct "Moon Face" (140.4) Available to be accessed at CMS National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) Alphabetical Index search page: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/ncd-alphabetical-index.aspx..

    National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Dermal Injections for the Treatment of Facial Lipodystrophy Syndrome (LDS) (250.5). Available to be accessed at CMS National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) Alphabetical Index search page: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/ncd-alphabetical-index.aspx.

    Local Coverage Article: Billing and Coding: Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery (A56587). Available at: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/lcd-details.aspx?LCDId=35062&ver=81&name=314*1&UpdatePeriod=771&bc=AAAAEAAAAAAA&.


    Medicaid Coverage:
    For members enrolled in Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare plans, Horizon BCBSNJ applies the above medical policy.

    FIDE-SNP:

    For members enrolled in a Fully Integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (FIDE-SNP): (1) to the extent the service is covered under the Medicare portion of the member’s benefit package, the above Medicare Coverage statement applies; and (2) to the extent the service is not covered under the Medicare portion of the member’s benefit package, the above Medicaid Coverage statement applies.

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    Horizon BCBSNJ Medical Policy Development Process:

    This Horizon BCBSNJ Medical Policy (the “Medical Policy”) has been developed by Horizon BCBSNJ’s Medical Policy Committee (the “Committee”) consistent with generally accepted standards of medical practice, and reflects Horizon BCBSNJ’s view of the subject health care services, supplies or procedures, and in what circumstances they are deemed to be medically necessary or experimental/ investigational in nature. This Medical Policy also considers whether and to what degree the subject health care services, supplies or procedures are clinically appropriate, in terms of type, frequency, extent, site and duration and if they are considered effective for the illnesses, injuries or diseases discussed. Where relevant, this Medical Policy considers whether the subject health care services, supplies or procedures are being requested primarily for the convenience of the covered person or the health care provider. It may also consider whether the services, supplies or procedures are more costly than an alternative service or sequence of services, supplies or procedures that are at least as likely to produce equivalent therapeutic or diagnostic results as to the diagnosis or treatment of the relevant illness, injury or disease. In reaching its conclusion regarding what it considers to be the generally accepted standards of medical practice, the Committee reviews and considers the following: all credible scientific evidence published in peer-reviewed medical literature generally recognized by the relevant medical community, physician and health care provider specialty society recommendations, the views of physicians and health care providers practicing in relevant clinical areas (including, but not limited to, the prevailing opinion within the appropriate specialty) and any other relevant factor as determined by applicable State and Federal laws and regulations.

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    Index:
    Cosmetic Procedures

    References:


    Codes:
    (The list of codes is not intended to be all-inclusive and is included below for informational purposes only. Inclusion or exclusion of a procedure, diagnosis, drug or device code(s) does not constitute or imply authorization, certification, approval, offer of coverage or guarantee of payment.)

    CPT*

      HCPCS

      * CPT only copyright 2020 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.
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      Medical policies can be highly technical and are designed for use by the Horizon BCBSNJ professional staff in making coverage determinations. Members referring to this policy should discuss it with their treating physician, and should refer to their specific benefit plan for the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of their coverage.

      The Horizon BCBSNJ Medical Policy Manual is proprietary. It is to be used only as authorized by Horizon BCBSNJ and its affiliates. The contents of this Medical Policy are not to be copied, reproduced or circulated to other parties without the express written consent of Horizon BCBSNJ. The contents of this Medical Policy may be updated or changed without notice, unless otherwise required by law and/or regulation. However, benefit determinations are made in the context of medical policies existing at the time of the decision and are not subject to later revision as the result of a change in medical policy

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