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Cigna Medical Coverage Policies – Radiology Chest Imaging Effective November 15, 2018

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Cigna Medical Coverage Policies – Radiology Chest Imaging Effective November 15, 2018 Cigna Medical Coverage Policies – Radiology Chest Imaging Effective November 15, 2018 ______________________________________________________________________________________ Instructions for use The following coverage policy applies to health benefit plans administered by Cigna. Coverage policies are intended to provide guidance in interpreting certain standard Cigna benefit plans and are used by medical directors and other health care professionals in making medical necessity and other coverage determinations. Please note the terms of a customer’s particular benefit plan document may differ significantly from the standard benefit plans upon which these coverage policies are based. For example, a customer’s benefit plan document may contain a specific exclusion related to a topic addressed in a coverage policy. In the event of a conflict, a customer’s benefit plan document always supersedes the information in the coverage policy. In the absence of federal or state coverage mandates, benefits are ultimately determined by the terms of the applicable benefit plan document. Coverage determinations in each specific instance require consideration of: 1. The terms of the applicable benefit plan document in effect on the date of service 2. Any applicable laws and regulations 3. Any relevant collateral source materials including coverage policies 4. The specific facts of the particular situation Coverage policies relate exclusively to the administration of health benefit plans. Coverage policies are not recommendations for treatment and should never be used as treatment guidelines. This evidence-based medical coverage policy has been developed by eviCore, Inc. Some information in this coverage policy may not apply to all benefit plans administered by Cigna. These guidelines include procedures eviCore does not review for Cigna. Please refer to the Cigna CPT code list for the current list of high-tech imaging procedures that eviCore reviews for Cigna. CPT® (Current Procedural Terminology) is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association (AMA). CPT® five digit codes, nomenclature and other data are copyright 2017 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. No fee schedules, basic units, relative values or related listings are included in the CPT® book. AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. AMA assumes no liability for the data contained herein or not contained herein. Imaging Guidelines V20.0.2018 Chest Imaging Guidelines Abbreviations for Chest Guidelines ............................................. 3 CH-1: General Guidelines ........................................................... 5 CH-2: Lymphadenopathy ............................................................ 9 CH-3: Cough ........................................................................... 12 CH-4: Non-Cardiac Chest Pain .................................................. 14 CH-5: Dyspnea/Shortness of Breath .......................................... 17 CH-6: Hemoptysis ................................................................... 19 CH-7: Bronchiectasis ............................................................... 21 CH-8: Bronchitis ..................................................................... 23 CH-9: Asbestos Exposure ........................................................ 25 CH-10: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) .............. 27 CH-11: Interstitial Disease ........................................................ 29 CH-12: Multiple Pulmonary Nodules .......................................... 31 CH-13: Pneumonia .................................................................. 33 CH-14: Other Chest Infections .................................................. 35 CH-15: Sarcoid ........................................................................ 38 CH-16: Solitary Pulmonary Nodule (SPN) ................................... 40 CH-17: Pleural-Based Nodules and Other Abnormalities .............. 46 CH-18: Pleural Effusion ............................................................ 48 CH-19: Pneumothorax/Hemothorax ........................................... 50 CH-20: Mediastinal Mass .......................................................... 52 CH-21: Chest Trauma ............................................................... 54 CH-22: Chest Wall Mass ........................................................... 56 CH-23: Pectus Excavatum and Pectus Carinatum ........................ 58 CH-24: Pulmonary Arteriovenous Fistula (AVM) .......................... 60 CH-25: Pulmonary Embolism (PE) ............................................. 62 CH-26: Pulmonary Hypertension ............................................... 67 CH-27: Subclavian Steal Syndrome ........................................... 68 CH-28: Superior Vena Cava (SVC) Syndrome .............................. 70 CH-29: Thoracic Aorta ............................................................. 72 CH-30: Elevated Hemidiaphragm ............................................... 78 CH-31: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) .................................... 80 CH-32: Newer Imaging Techniques ............................................ 82 CH-33: Lung Transplantation .................................................... 84 CH-34: Lung Cancer Screening ................................................. 86 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2018 eviCore healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Page 2 of 91 400 Buckwalter Place Boulevard, Bluffton, SC 29910 (800) 918-8924 www.eviCore.com Imaging Guidelines V20.0.2018 Abbreviations for Chest Guidelines AAA abdominal aortic aneurysm ACE angiotensin-converting enzyme AVM arteriovenous malformation BI-RADS Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System BP blood pressure BRCA tumor suppressor gene CAD computer-aided detection CBC Complete blood count COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease CT computed tomography CTA computed tomography angiography CTV computed tomography venography DCIS ductal carcinoma in situ DVT deep venous thrombosis ECG electrocardiogram EM electromagnetic Food and Drug EMG electromyogram FDA Administration FDG fluorodeoxyglucose FNA fine needle aspiration GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease GI gastrointestinal HRCT high resolution computed tomography IPF idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis LCIS lobular carcinoma in situ LFTP localized fibrous tumor of the pleura MRA magnetic resonance angiography MRI magnetic resonance imaging MRV magnetic resonance venography NCV nerve conduction velocity PE pulmonary embolus PEM positron-emission mammography PET positron emission tomography Chest Imaging ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2018 eviCore healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Page 3 of 91 400 Buckwalter Place Boulevard, Bluffton, SC 29910 (800) 918-8924 www.eviCore.com Imaging Guidelines V20.0.2018 PFT pulmonary function tests PPD purified protein derivative of tuberculin RODEO Rotating Delivery of Excitation Off-resonance MRI SPN solitary pulmonary nodule SVC superior vena cava Chest Imaging ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2018 eviCore healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Page 4 of 91 400 Buckwalter Place Boulevard, Bluffton, SC 29910 (800) 918-8924 www.eviCore.com Imaging Guidelines V20.0.2018 CH-1: General Guidelines CH-1: General Guidelines 6 CH-1.2: General Guidelines – Chest Ultrasound 7 CH-1.3: General Guidelines – CT Chest 7 CH-1.4: General Guidelines – CTA Chest (CPT® 71275) 8 CH-1.5: General Guidelines – Chest MRI without and with Contrast (CPT® 71552) 8 CH-1.6: This section intentionally left blank 8 Chest Imaging ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2018 eviCore healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Page 5 of 91 400 Buckwalter Place Boulevard, Bluffton, SC 29910 (800) 918-8924 www.eviCore.com Imaging Guidelines V20.0.2018 CH-1: General Guidelines A current clinical evaluation (within 60 days) is required prior to considering advanced imaging. A clinical evaluation should include the following: A relevant history and physical examination. Appropriate laboratory studies and non-advanced imaging modalities, such as plain x-ray or ultrasound. Other meaningful contact (telephone call, electronic mail or messaging) by an established individual can substitute for a face-to-face clinical evaluation. A Pulmonary or Thoracic Surgical Specialist can be helpful in evaluating thoracic disorders. CH-1.1: General Guidelines – Chest X-Ray A recent chest x-ray (generally within the last 60 days) that has been over read by a radiologist would be performed in many of these cases prior to considering advanced imaging.1,2 Identify and compare with previous chest films to determine presence and stability. Chest x-ray can help identify previously unidentified disease and may direct proper advanced imaging for such conditions as: Pneumothorax, (see CH-19: Pneumothorax/Hemothorax). Pneumomediastinum, (see CH-19: Pneumothorax/Hemothorax). Fractured ribs, (seeCH-22: Chest Wall Mass). Acute and chronic infections, and (seeCH-13: Pneumonia and CH-14: Other Chest Infections). Malignancies. Exceptions to preliminary chest x-ray may include such conditions as: Supraclavicular lymphadenopathy (see CH-2.1: Supraclavicular Region). Known Bronchiectasis (see CH-7: Bronchiectasis). Suspected Interstitial lung
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