Posted in BCBS (Various States), Payer Updates, Training, Updates

BCBS of Virginia and It’s affiliate Healthkeepers, Inc 3 new Lab coverage-07/01/22

If you are a provider or a LAB that is ordering or offering the following tests for your Anthem BCBS of Virginia and its Affiliate Healthkeepers Inc. patients this blog post is for you! Effective date is 07/01/2022


These following NEW LAB guidelines impact all our products – with the exception of Anthem HealthKeepers Plus (Medicaid), Medicare Advantage, the Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (Anthem CCC Plus) plan, and the BlueCross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan (also called the Federal Employee Program® or
FEP®). Furthermore, the guidelines were among those recently approved at the Medical Policy and Technology Assessment Committee meeting held on February 17, 2022.


LAB.00043-Immune Biomarker Tests for Cancer -This new lab policy addresses the coverage for immune response algorithmic tests for oncologic disease management At least one test, Immunoscore® (Veracyte Inc.), which has been investigated for management of colon cancer, is commercially available. According to this policy Anthem BCBS of Virginia and its affiliate Healthkeepers Inc., consider oncologic immune biomarker tests are considered investigational and not medically necessary for all indications. CPT codes: 0261U


LAB.00044-Saliva-based Testing to Determine Drug-Metabolizer Status– this new lab policy addresses the coverage for saliva-based testing to determine drugmetabolizer status. Saliva-based testing to determine drug-metabolizer status is considered investigational and not medically necessary for all indications. The CPT code associated with this new coverage guideline is 84999.


LAB.00045-Selected Tests for the Evaluation and Management of Infertility– this NEW Lab policy addresses the coverage for selected tests that are part of the diagnostic work-up to determine the cause of infertility or manage infertility treatment. According to Anthem BCBS of Virginia and its affiliate the following tests or procedures are considered investigational and not medically necessary for diagnosing or managing infertility:

• Endometrial receptivity analysis;

• Sperm-capacitation test;

• Sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation test;

• Sperm penetration assay; and

• Uterine natural killer (uNK) cells test.

The CPT codes associated with this new coverage guideline are 86357, 89329, 89330, 89398, 0253U, and 0255U.


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Posted in BCBS Empire NY, Updates

Empire BCBS (NY) Voluntary Cancer Care Quality Program (changes 07/01/2021)

According to Empire BCBS NY: in order to align the program intention to support member care coordination and to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements surrounding the program, Empire BCBS is amending the approach for enhanced reimbursement that accompanies selection of ‘on-pathway’ chemotherapy drug regimens as part of the AIM Oncology/Cancer Care Quality Program. 

Starting 07/01/2021, authorization process for on-pathway drug regimens as part of the AIM Oncology/Cancer Care Quality Program chemotherapy, will be adjusted to reflect specific regiments and enhanced reimbursements, for the medical oncologists.

Which regiments are affected?

Only select oral and hormonal agents for which a monthly in-office visit may not be required.

For the complete list please click here.

Which Authorizations will be affected?

This will impact all authorizations submitted through the AIM authorization process on or after July 1, 2021, regardless of planned treatment dates. 

Which HCPCS codes will be affected?

Billable S-codes for treatment planning and care coordination management for cancer.

How will be the payment affected for the billable S-codes?

The optional enhanced reimbursement award will be reduced from a monthly award during each month of treatment to a single award to accompany treatment initiation (S0353)

AIM/Empire will continuously review the regimen library to ensure S-code award levels remain consistent with program goals regarding care coordination support. 

If you have any questions, please Contact your Empire network representative or your oncology provider engagement liaison for more information.

Click here for the full updated Cancer Treatment Planning and Care Coordination policy (Commercial Plans)