At which of the following time should the medical administrative assistant obtain pre authorization for a diagnostic procedure?

Policies and Guidelines > Utilization Management and Prior Authorization

Utilization Management and Prior Authorization

A utilization management (UM) policy is a document containing clinical criteria used by Medica staff members for prior authorization, appropriateness of care determination and coverage. The criteria are specific to the clinical characteristics of the population that will benefit from the treatment or technology. The needs of individual patients who may not meet these criteria must be considered and are addressed by the process in the section labeled "Coverage Issues" on the UM policy.

These policies provide general information concerning our administrative processes. The service may or may not be covered by all Medica plans. Please refer to the member’s plan document for specific coverage information. If there is a difference between this general information and the member’s plan document, the member’s plan document will be used to determine coverage. With respect to Medicare and Medicaid members, these policies will apply unless these programs require different coverage.

Medica may use tools developed by third parties, such as MCG Care Guidelines®, to assist in administering health benefits.  

Medica UM policies and MCG Care Guidelines are not intended to be used without the independent clinical judgment of a qualified health care provider taking into account the individual circumstances of each member’s case. Medica UM policies and MCG Care Guidelines do not constitute the practice of medicine or medical advice. The treating health care providers are solely responsible for diagnosis, treatment, and medical advice.

Medica medical policies are a clinical reference that includes UM policies, coverage policies, drug management policies, clinical guidelines and MCG Care Guidelines (if applicable). The coverage policy, UM policy sections as well as the member's plan document should be checked to determine coverage for a particular service.

For medical services that require prior authorization, as specified in the Prior Authorization List, see additional details below.

Medica requires that providers obtain prior authorization before rendering services. 

If any items on the Medica Prior Authorization List are submitted for payment without obtaining a prior authorization, the related claim or claims will be denied as provider liability. The provider will have 60 days from the date of the claim denial to appeal and supply supporting documentation required to determine medical necessity.

Medica reserves the right to conduct a medical necessity review at the time the claim is received.

Policies and Prior Authorization

Important Note: Before using these policies, please read the UM Policy Usage Notice.

Use the links below to navigate to policies and prior authorizations.

  • Utilization Management Policies
  • Prior Authorization

Utilization Management Policies

Behavioral Health

  • Behavioral Health Services (III-BEH.01)

Devices/Equipment

  • Bone Growth Stimulators (III-DEV.07)
  • High Frequency Chest Wall Compression (HFCWC) Devices (III-DEV.20)
  • Microprocessor Controlled Knee Prostheses, with or without Polycentric, Three-Dimensional Endoskeletal Hip Joint System (III-DEV.17)
  • Spinal Cord and Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation for Treatment of Pain (III-DEV,23)
  • Vagus Nerve Stimulation (III-DEV.24)
  • Wheelchairs, Scooters and Accessories (III-DEV.25)

Diagnostics

  • Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) Microarray Testing (III-DIA.09) 
  • Genetic Testing For Susceptibility to Hereditary Breast and/or Ovarian Cancer (III-DIA.04) 
  • Genetic Testing for Susceptibility to Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Syndromes (III-DIA.06) 
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan (III-DIA12)
  • Real-Time Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry (RT-MCOT) (III-DIA.08)
  • Whole Exome Sequencing (III-DIA.13)
  • Genetic Testing for Prostate Cancer (III-DIA.14)

Drugs

  • Drug Management Policies

Home Care

  • Extended Hours Home Care (Skilled Nursing Services) (III-HOM.01) 
  • Home Health Aide (III-HOM.02) 
  • Medicaid Home Care Nursing (HCN) Services (III-HOM.05) 
  • Medicaid Home Health Aide (III-HOM.04) 
  • Personal Care Assistance (III-HOM.03) 

Inpatient

  • Inpatient (Hospital) Level of Care (III-INP.01)
  • Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (Acute Rehabilitation) (III-INP.05)
  • Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) (III-INP.04)
  • Skilled Nursing Facility (III-INP.03)

Medical Services

  • Outpatient Enteral Nutrition Therapy (III-MED.03) 
  • Air Ambulance, Non-Emergent (III-MED.08) 

Surgical Procedures

  • Abdominoplasty/Panniculectomy (III-SUR.13) 
  • Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation in the Knee (III-SUR.35) 
  • Bariatric Surgery (III-SUR.30) 
  • Blepharoplasty, Blepharoptosis Repair and Brow Lift (III.SUR.29) 
  • Breast Implant Removal, Revision, or Reimplantation (III-SUR.11) 
  • Cervical Spine Surgeries (III-SUR.37)
  • Facet Injections and Percutaneous Denervation Procedures (Radiofrequency and Laser Ablation) for Facet-Mediated Joint Pain (III-SUR.45)
  • Female Breast Reduction Surgery - Reduction Mammoplasty (III-SUR.27)
  • Gender Reassignment (Gender Affirmation) Procedures (III-SUR.20)
  • Implanted Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (III-SUR.43)
  • Lumbar Spine Surgeries (III-SUR.34)
  • Magnetic Esophageal Ring for Treatment of Gastroesphageal Reflux Disease (III-SUR.42)
  • Male Gynecomastia Surgery (III-SUR.31) 
  • Orthognathic Surgery (III-SUR.32) 
  • Otoplasty (III-SUR.33)
  • Rhinoplasty Procedure With or Without Septoplasty (III-SUR.04)
  • Sacroiliac Joint Fusion, Open and Minimally Invasive (III-SUR.44)
  • Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP or U3P) for Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome (III-SUR.08) 
  • Varicose Vein and Venous Insufficiency Treatments of the Lower Extremities (III-SUR.26) 

Transplants – Organ & Bone Marrow

  • Bone Marrow or Stem Cell (Peripheral or Umbilical Cord Blood) Transplantation (III-TRA.01) 
  • Heart/Lung Transplantation (III-TRA.08) 
  • Heart Transplantation (Adult and Pediatric) (III-TRA.12) 
  • Intestinal Transplantation (III-TRA.13) 
  • Kidney Transplantation (III-TRA.03) 
  • Liver Transplantation (III-TRA.02) 
  • Lung Transplantation (Single or Double) (III-TRA.11) 
  • Pancreas Transplantation (Pancreas Alone) (III-TRA.04) 
  • Pancreas-Kidney (SPK, PAK) Transplantation (III-TRA.05)

Prior Authorization

The purpose of prior authorization is to evaluate the appropriateness of a medical service based on criteria, medical necessity, and benefit coverage. Please review the current Prior Authorization List of medical services that require prior authorization. For certain services, providers are required to submit a prior authorization form that outlines information important in helping Medica determine the appropriateness of care for Medica members seeking related services.

Prior Authorization List (PDF) 

Devices, Diagnostics and Procedures Request Form

The Prior Authorization List above outlines all medical services requiring prior authorization from Medica. The following form is to be used as the preferred method for requesting prior authorization for these particular services.

  • Prior Authorization Request Form (PDF)
  • Prior Authorization Request Form for Behavioral Health (BH)/Substance Abuse (SA) (PDF)
  • Prior Authorization Request Form for Facet Injections and Percutaneous Denervation Procedures (PDF)
  • Prior Authorization Request Form for Genetic Testing (PDF)
  • Home Care Nursing (HCN) Hardship Waiver Application Form (PDF)
    • Home Care Nursing (HCN) Hardship Waiver Application Instructions (PDF)
    • Home Care Nursing (HCN) Hardship Waiver Policy (PDF)
  • Prior Authorization Request Form for Home Health Agency (PDF)
  • Prior Authorization Form for Organ and Bone Marrow /Stem Cell Transplant (PDF)
  • Prior Authorization Request Form for Out of Network Provider (PDF)
  • Prior Authorization Request Form for Post-Acute Inpatient Admissions (SNF, LTACH, Acute Rehab) - (PDF)
  • Prior Authorization Request Form for Spine Surgeries (PDF)
  • Prior Authorization Request Form for Wheelchair and Accessory (PDF)

For pharmacy prior authorizations, see Drug Management Policies.

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