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Section: Maternity
Number: U-5
Topic: Assisted Fertilization
Effective Date: January 31, 2011
Issued Date: January 31, 2011
Date Last Reviewed:

General Policy Guidelines

Indications and Limitations of Coverage

Coverage for assisted fertilization is determined according to individual or group customer benefits.

The procedures listed on the Table Attachment below may be reported as part of an assisted fertilization program.

NOTE:
This is not an all-inclusive list. The coverage of these procedures may vary according to group specific benefits.
 
NOTE:
The following are non-covered professional services because there is no physician service rendered. Charges for cryopreservation, storage, procurement, and thawing of specimens are generally facility charges which should be processed in accordance with the member’s benefits:
 
cryopreservation of oocytes (0059T)
cryopreservation of embryo(s) (89258)
cryopreservation of sperm (89259)
cryopreservation of reproductive ovarian tissue (0058T)
cryopreservation of reproductive testicular tissue (89335)
storage of oocyte (89346)
storage of embryo(s) (89342)
monitoring and storage of cryopreserved embryos (S4040)
storage of previously frozen embryos (S4027)
storage of sperm/semen (89343)
storage of ovarian/testicular reproductive tissue (89344)
procurement of donor sperm from sperm bank (S4026)
sperm procurement and cryopreservation services (S4030, S4031)
thawing of oocytes (89356)
thawing of cryopreserved embryo(s) (89352)
thawing of sperm/semen (89353)
thawing of reproductive tissue (89354) 

Assisted fertilization services are generally excluded from standard medical-surgical contracts, and are not eligible for reimbursement. However, all medical, surgical, and diagnostic services performed to diagnose and treat infertility are generally covered unless the individual member’s contract contains an exclusion with regard to the diagnosis and treatment of infertility.

Once it has been established that the ultimate goal for the infertile patient is assisted fertilization (AI, IVF, GIFT, ZIFT, etc.), all subsequent related diagnostic, medical, and surgical services are considered part of the assisted fertilization program, and are non-covered when the member does not have an assisted fertilization benefit. Related services, including but not limited to lab work and ultrasound, performed in preparation for or in conjunction with assisted fertilization services should be reported with the appropriate ICD-9-CM code for artificial insemination or IVF, GIFT, ZIFT, etc. (see the "Diagnosis Codes" section) in order to distinguish them as services associated with an artificial fertilization program. Such services are non-covered when the member does not have the benefit for artificial fertilization. A participating, preferred, or network provider can bill the member for the non-covered service.

When reported, assisted fertilization program management should be processed under the appropriate procedure codes for the services rendered. Assisted fertilization program management generally includes, but is not limited to, such services as a history and physical, daily visits, consultations for medication adjustment, and counseling. Report the appropriate ICD-9-CM code for artificial insemination or IVF, GIFT, ZIFT, etc. (see the "Diagnosis Codes" section) in order to distinguish them as services associated with an artificial fertilization program. Such services are non-covered when the member does not have an assisted fertilization benefit. A participating, preferred, or network provider can bill the member for the denied service.

When assisted fertilization is successful, payment can be made for managing the pregnancy and delivery.

Refer to Medical Policy Bulletin X-26 for information on ultrasound studies for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility.

Ovulation Induction Management
Ovulation induction management (cycle management) involves the medical management of the patient where medication is used to stimulate development of mature follicles within the ovaries.

Ovulation induction management may be performed as part of an assisted fertilization program or as a treatment for infertility outside of an assisted fertilization program. This service may be reported using an appropriate evaluation and management procedure code, provided that there is patient/physician interaction and all of the components of the E&M code have been met.

Ovulation induction management performed without a face-to-face patient/physician encounter (e.g., conducted via telephone) may be considered an eligible service. Procedure code S4042 should be used to report ovulation induction management services involving the interpretation/discussion of laboratory test results and clarification of medication dosage or instructions where there is no face-to-face contact between the physician and the patient. Procedure code S4042 should be reported once for each cycle of ovulation induction management. Global reimbursement will be applied for each cycle of non face-to-face ovulation induction management (S4042) in accordance with the individual member's contract. 

Additionally, other services performed within the ovulation induction management process (e.g., laboratory tests, ultrasound, etc.) should be reported individually with the appropriate procedure code and will be paid in accordance with the individual member’s contract.

When performed for treatment of infertility, global payment for non face-to-face ovulation induction management (S4042) is limited to twelve times (cycles) within a 12 month period. 

Description

Infertility is the medically documented diminished ability to conceive or induce conception. A couple is considered infertile if pregnancy does not occur over a one-year period of normal coital activity between a male and female partner without contraceptives. The cause of infertility can be a female or male factor, or a combination of both.

Ovulation induction involves the use of medication to stimulate development of mature follicles within the ovaries.

Assisted fertilization techniques enhance sperm-egg interaction. Management of the infertile couple with assisted fertilization is generally limited to those couples who do not respond to infertility treatments (e.g., tuboplasty for the female, microsurgical reconstruction for the male).

Assisted fertilization techniques include the following. (This is not an all-inclusive list.)

ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION (AI): Frozen sperm is transferred by catheter either directly into the uterus, bypassing the cervix and upper vagina (intrauterine insemination), or directly into the cervix (intracervical insemination). Artificial insemination may be performed in the course of a natural cycle or an ovulation induction cycle (e.g., Clomid, Pergonal).

IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF): Eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory dish where fertilization occurs. Two days after the retrieval, the embryo is transferred into the woman's uterus.

BLASTOCYST TRANSFER: The blastocyst transfer procedure is virtually identical to IVF, with one key exception, the embryo is allowed to develop outside the womb for four or five days instead of two or three. The extra time allows the embryo to become a multicelled structure called a blastocyst. The blastocyst is then implanted in the patient's uterus.

GAMETE INTRAFALLOPIAN TRANSFER (GIFT): Eggs and sperm are mixed in a laboratory dish. The unfertilized combination is deposited directly into the woman's fallopian tube where fertilization may occur laparoscopically naturally. Any resulting embryo floats into the uterus for possible implantation.

ZYGOTE INTRAFALLOPIAN TRANSFER (ZIFT): Eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory dish where fertilization occurs. Before the zygote, or pre-embryo has divided, it is laparoscopically transferred into the woman's fallopian tube within 24 hours of fertilization. The zygote travels through the fallopian tube and into the uterus where natural implantation in the endometrial lining may take place.

TUBAL EMBRYO TRANSFER (TET): Tubal embryo transfer is essentially synonymous with zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT). In this procedure, embryos are placed into the fallopian tube by laparoscopy or transuterine, transcervical tubal cannulation. The embryos naturally travel into the uterus where natural implantation in the endometrial lining may take place.

PERITONEAL OVUM SPERM TRANSFER: Oocytes recovered by laparoscopic or transvaginal oocyte retrieval are mixed with a suspension of sperm and injected across the vaginal mucosa into the posterior cul de sac.

Procedure Codes

558705832158322583235897058974
589767694884702892508925189253
892548925589257892588925989260
892618926489268892728928089281
892908929189335893428934389344
8934689352893538935489356S4026
S4027S4028S4030S4031S4040S4042
0058T0059T    

Traditional Guidelines

Refer to General Policy Guidelines

FEP Guidelines

Diagnosis and treatment of infertility is covered, except as shown in non-covered section (below)

Non-covered:

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures,

- artificial insemination (AI)
- in vitro fertilization
- embryo transfer and Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)
- intravaginal insemination (IVI)
- intracervical insemination (ICI)
- intrauterine insemination (IUI)

Services and supplies related to ART procedures, such as sperm banking.

PPO Guidelines

Refer to General Policy Guidelines

Managed Care POS Guidelines

Refer to General Policy Guidelines

Publications

References

PRN References 

10/2004, Reporting guidelines for ovulation induction management explained
04/2006, Treatment of infertility and assisted fertilization guidelines clarified
08/2010, Correct reporting of assisted fertilization services

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Table Attachment

Assisted Fertilization Procedures
Procedure Code Description
55870 Electroejaculation
58321 Artificial insemination; intracervical (AI)
58322 Artificial insemination; intrauterine (AI)
58323 Sperm washing for artificial insemination
58970 Follicle puncture for oocyte retrieval, any method (e.g., laparoscopy, colposcopy)
58974 Embryo transfer, intrauterine (IVF)
58976 Gamete, zygote, or embryo intrafallopian transfer, any method (GIFT, ZIFT)
76948 Ultrasonic guidance for aspiration of ova
84702 Gonadotropin, chorionic; qualitative (i.e., implantation monitoring - HCG assay)
89250 Culture of oocyte(s)/embryo(s), less than 4 days
89251 Culture and fertilization of oocyte(s); with co-culture of oocyte(s)/embryo(s)
89253 Assisted embryo hatching, microtechniques (any method) (e.g., zona drilling)
89254 Oocyte identification from follicular fluid
89255 Preparation of embryo for transfer (any method)
89257 Sperm identification from aspiration (other than seminal fluid)
*89260 Sperm isolation: simple prep (e.g., sperm wash and swim-up) for insemination or diagnosis with semen analysis
*89261 Sperm isolation: complex prep (e.g., per co gradient, albumin gradient) for insemination or diagnosis with semen analysis
89264 Sperm identification from testis tissue, fresh or cryopreserved
89268 Insemination of oocytes
89272 Extended culture of oocyte(s)/embryo(s), 4-7 days
89280 Assisted oocyte fertilization, microtechnique; less than or equal to 10 oocytes
89281 Assisted oocyte fertilization, microtechnique; greater than 10 oocytes
89290 Biopsy, oocyte polar body or embryo blastomere, microtechnique (for preimplantation genetic diagnosis); less than or equal to 5 embryos
89291 Biopsy, oocyte polar body or embryo blastomere, microtechnique (for preimplantation genetic diagnosis); greater than 5 embryos
S4028 Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA)
*S4042 Ovulation induction/cycle management (interpretation of diagnostic tests/studies, non face-to-face medical management of patient)

* May also be used in the diagnosis/treatment of infertility outside of an assisted fertilization program.

Text Attachment

Procedure Code Attachments

Diagnosis Codes

For Artificial Insemination

V26.1   

For IVF, GIFT, ZIFT, etc.

V26.81   

Glossary





This policy is designed to address medical guidelines that are appropriate for the majority of individuals with a particular disease, illness, or condition. Each person's unique clinical circumstances may warrant individual consideration, based on review of applicable medical records.

Medical policies are designed to supplement the terms of a member's contract. The member's contract defines the benefits available; therefore, medical policies should not be construed as overriding specific contract language. In the event of conflict, the contract shall govern.

Medical policies do not constitute medical advice, nor the practice of medicine. Rather, such policies are intended only to establish general guidelines for coverage and reimbursement under Highmark West Virginia plans. Application of a medical policy to determine coverage in an individual instance is not intended and shall not be construed to supercede the professional judgment of a treating provider. In all situations, the treating provider must use his/her professional judgment to provide care he/she believes to be in the best interest of the patient, and the provider and patient remain responsible for all treatment decisions.

Highmark West Virginia retains the right to review and update its medical policy guidelines at its sole discretion. These guidelines are the proprietary information of Highmark West Virginia. Any sale, copying or dissemination of the medical policies is prohibited; however, limited copying of medical policies is permitted for individual use.



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