Posted in #reimbursement, 1199 SEIU Benefits Fund, Education, NY Providers, Payer Updates

NYS Medicaid: Bariatric Surgery Medical Policy Update

Do you accept NYS Medicaid or Managed Medicaid Plan members? Then this blog post is for you!


Non surgical treatment should be attempted: ex. diet and increased exercise.


Bariatric Surgery Adult Patient: 18 years old and over

  1. BMI index 35 kg/m or greater OR
  2. BMI index 30-34.9 kg/m and a serious weight-related health problem (ex. High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or severe sleep apnea)

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Pediatric patients: 18 years and older – patients that are deemed physically, mentally, and emotionally mature by a team of various providers ex. Pediatric provider, bariatric surgeon, and or other specialty providers.

  1. BMI- more and equal to 35 kg/m or more than 120% of 95th percentile of age and sex, whichever is lower AND with a weight-related health problem: ex. diabetes type 2, obstructive apnea – index or Reapiratory Disturbance Index greater than 5, Blount disease, non alcoholic steatohepatitis, slipped capital femoral epiphanies, GERD, hypertension, insulin resistance; or depressed health-related quality of life
  2. BMI greater than 40 kg/m or greater than 140% of the 95th percentile of age and sex, whichever is lower

Coding:

Most common codes that related to Bariatric Surgery

43644Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

43775: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

43770: Laparoscopic placement of an adjustable gastric band


43645: Laparoscopic malabsorptive procedure (e.g., [[Mini-gastric bypass|Mini-gastric bypass]]).

43848: Revision of a gastric restrictive procedure (open). 


NYS Medicaid coding and fee resources:

1. Physician Fee schedule- https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.emedny.org%2FProviderManuals%2FPhysician%2FPDFS%2FPhysician_Manual_Fee_Schedule_Sect5.xls&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK

2. Provider Manual- https://www.emedny.org/ProviderManuals/Physician/PDFS/Physician%20Procedure%20Codes%20Sect5.pdf


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Posted in #reimbursement, EmblemHealth NY, Payer Updates, Prior Authorization Insurance Carrier Updates, Training

Emblem Health to add more DME codes to prior auth list.

Are you a a DME provider or a physician that prescribes DME for Emblem Health members? Then this blog post is for you!

Starting on for any DOS 13,2026 and thereafter the following DME codes will be added to the prior authorization list.


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Posted in #reimbursement, BCBS Empire NY, NY Providers, Payer Updates, Prior Authorization Insurance Carrier Updates

Anthem BC/BS NY:MLTC Program updates 2025

Are you a provider that provides services for MLTC members that have the MLTC Plan type through Anthem BCBS- then this blog post is for you!

The following changes take affect for any DOS after 3/1/25:

-MLTC member ID numbers

-Electronic funds transfer (EFT): EnrollSafe replaced Payspan as the EFT website.

-Availity Essentials replaced Payspan for provider remittances (ERA).

Authorizations for personal care services, social daycare, and meals will be issued in weekly units and will no longer contain a fixed daily schedule, allowing for greater flexibility in service provision and billing.


Claims-related updates:

-Access claim status information in Availity Essentials.

Paper claims submission address


-Aligned claim timely filing guidelines.

-Value code and rate code are required for nursing home claims.

-Bill types and revenue codes were aligned for specific service.

-Check run days were changed to Wednesdays and Saturday


What is not affected:

-Authorization information is available on the legacy MLTC Provider Portal.

-Electronic claim submission — Payer ID 45302 for MLTC claims

-EDI claims submissions using Availity Essentials

-Claim dispute process

-Clinical appeal process

-The Care Management, Provider Services, and Provider Relations teams


For more information regarding these changes please visit: Anthem Provider Manual- MLTC

https://providers.anthem.com/new-york-provider/resources/manuals-policies-guidelines


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