Highmark West Virginia Medical Policy Bulletin |
Section: | Surgery |
Number: | S-129 |
Topic: | Mastectomy and Reconstructive Surgery |
Effective Date: | February 21, 2011 |
Issued Date: | February 21, 2011 |
Date Last Reviewed: |
Indications and Limitations of Coverage
Mastectomy Medically necessary services that are appropriate for the symptoms and diagnosis, or treatment of the member's condition, illness, or injury are contractually covered. The services must also be in accordance with current standards of good medical care. Mastectomy (19301-19307) is the removal of all or part of a breast. Mastectomies are most typically performed as a treatment for cancer. However, mastectomies are also performed for the treatment of benign disease. Mastectomy for Fibrocystic Breasts Although fibrocystic breasts may not be considered a disease state, it is considered a condition or a "disorder." There may be no symptoms, but for those women who do have symptoms, they range from mild to severe. Mastectomy is not the appropriate treatment for fibrocystic breasts in all cases. However, mastectomy for fibrocystic breasts may be indicated when the patient is symptomatic and has been unresponsive to conservative treatment and/or a biopsy has been performed. Symptoms of fibrocystic breasts include, but are not limited to: breast engorgement attended by pain and tenderness, generalized lumpiness or isolated mass or cyst. However, the presence of nipple discharge is rarely present in a fibrocystic breast. Conservative treatment for fibrocystic breasts consists of, but is not limited to: support bras, avoiding trauma, avoiding caffeine, medication for pain, anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal manipulation, use of vitamin E, use of diuretics, and salt restrictions. The type of mastectomy (subcutaneous, partial, modified, or radical) and the timing of the surgery varies for each patient and is determined by the surgeon.
Reconstructive Surgery Reconstructive breast surgery is defined as those surgical procedures designed to restore the normal appearance of a breast following a mastectomy. Reconstructive surgery includes all surgery on the affected breast and surgery on the contralateral normal breast to re-establish symmetry between the two breasts or to alleviate functional impairment caused by the mastectomy. Symmetry is defined as approximate equality in size and shape of the nondiseased breast with the diseased breast after definitive reconstructive surgery on the diseased or nondiseased breast has been performed. The most common type of reconstructive surgery following mastectomy is the insertion of a silicone gel-filled or saline-filled breast implant. The implant can be inserted immediately at the time of mastectomy (19340), or sometime afterward in conjunction with the previous use of a tissue expander (19342, 19357). Other types of reconstruction on the diseased breast include, but are not limited to:
Prosthetics are defined as the use of initial and subsequent artificial devices to replace the removed breast or portions of the breast. The following prosthetics are covered:
Coverage for these services are subject to any copayments, coinsurances or deductibles, and all other terms and conditions, set forth in the patient's contract. Place of Service: Inpatient/Outpatient When performed for non-cancer diagnoses or independent of the mastectomy or the breast reconstruction flap, nipple/areola reconstruction, nipple tattooing, preparation of moulage for custom breast implants, augmentation mammoplasty, reduction mammoplasty, and mastopexy are typically outpatient procedures which are only eligible for coverage as inpatient procedures in special circumstances including, but no limited to, current therapeutic anticoagulation therapy or when performed in conjunction with a service typically performed in the inpatient setting. |
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19301 | 19302 | 19303 | 19304 | 19305 | 19306 |
19307 | 19316 | 19318 | 19324 | 19325 | 19340 |
19342 | 19350 | 19357 | 19361 | 19364 | 19367 |
19368 | 19369 | 19396 | 19499 | A4280 | L8000 |
L8001 | L8002 | L8010 | L8015 | L8020 | L8030 |
L8031 | L8032 | L8035 | L8039 | L8600 | S2066 |
S2067 | S2068 | S8460 |
This medical policy may not apply to FEP. Medical policy is not an authorization, certification, explanation of benefits, or a contract. Benefits are determined by the Federal Employee Program. |
Provider News
02/2011, Corrections to October 2010 PRN: Place of service designation now included on certain medical policies
InterQual® Level of Care Criteria 2010. Acute Care Adult. McKesson Health Solutions, LLC. |
610.1 |