Patient Advocacy: Healthcare on your side
by Martine G. Brousse,
Healthcare
Specialist, Patient Advocate, Certified Mediator
ADVIMEDPRO
THE 411 ON "MEDICAL NECESSITY"*
Few insurance denials are more frustrating
that those issued for "lack of medical necessity". If your doctor
prescribed a treatment or procedure, it must be medically necessary, right?
It depends. "Medically necessary" has different
meanings. Understanding which one applies to your case determines your appeal
options and chances of success.
1. Standard medical practice says
The most common definition is that "the
service/procedure/treatment is reasonably expected to prevent the onset of a
condition, reduce or ameliorate the effects of an illness or condition, or help
an individual obtain or maintain maximum functional capacity".
From the insurance point of view, the most economical, least
invasive, most efficient way of achieving the above is the preferred option.
Let's say your prescription is brand name, but over the
counter or generic alternatives are available. In most cases, medical necessity
for the more expensive drug would not be justified.
When a surgical or invasive intervention is recommended, medical
necessity means no other pharmaceutical, more conservative or non-invasive
therapies are indicated.
2. Your insurance (policy) says
Coverage of the same procedure or drug may vary from insurer to insurer. It is advisable
to always confirm a service or prescription is covered under your policy to
avoid costly surprises.
Restrictions are often found on procedures that have cheaper
or less radical alternatives, or those deemed "elective". If the
insurer can argue that the life or welfare of the patient are not in immediate
danger, or that the condition can be managed via a more conservative approach,
the medical necessity for more drastic measures is often rejected.
A good example is knee replacement: your physician may
recommend immediate replacement surgery, but your insurer may impose physical
therapy and pharmaceutical pain management until the condition turns more
serious or for a certain length of time without improvement.
3. The FDA says
If it is not FDA approved for use or not indicated for your
specific diagnosis ("off label"), it is not medically necessary...
unless accepted exceptions apply.
The most important is the listing in the drug NCCN compendia
(the "Bible of medications"). If an off-label use is published there,
your insurance may accept to cover it. Though not FDA approved, it indicates
that it has become an accepted use within the medical community.
4. The physician says
Based on professional experience your treating physician
might prescribe a stronger prescription than the over the counter version,
bypassing the standard protocol. He might also disregard a longer-term approach
for a quicker but more drastic solution based on medical and other criteria. Medical records should and must explain this decision.
5. You say
As a billing manager, I have seen my share of cases where
convenience and personal preferences were the basis for requesting a specific
prescription or treatment.
While a young mother choosing to undergo a gentler but
longer type of chemotherapy when the norm is a less costly, shorter but
debilitating treatment can be justified, requests based on marketing ads,
advise from friends and family members or indiscriminate internet research will
not.
Medical providers might be tempted to prescribe a certain
drug, or order a test or scan to please (and keep) their patient. Relying on unverified
statements by the patient, they may be led to advise serious interventions when
not truly indicated.
Unsupported by sound, appropriate medical records, it will
be difficult to prove medical necessity in such cases.
In conclusion:
Depending on the point of view, medical necessity takes many
forms. It usually follows established protocols. When your insurance issues a
denial, it does so based on specific reasons, published policies, FDA
guidelines or standard medical practices. Other valid explanations include a
lack of medical records, insufficient justification or a missing authorization.
Until evidence is given supporting the need for an
out-of-the-norm service in your specific case, expecting a change of decision
might be a lost cause.
* previously published on NerdWallet
© [2014] AdviMed.
© [2014] Martine G. Brousse.
All rights reserved.
My objective is to offer you, the patient, concrete and beneficial information, useful tips, proven and efficient tools as well as trustworthy supportive advice as you deal
with a system in the midst of sweeping adjustments, widespread misunderstandings
and complex requirements.
Quote of the week
"The flower of consciousness needs the mud out of which it grows." Eckhart Tolle
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