Does R51.9 require prior authorization?

No, R51.9 does not require prior authorization (medium confidence). Covered without prior authorization by at least one policy, though another does not cover it.

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`R51.9`, Headache, unspecified

ICD-10-CM

Prior Authorization

No Prior Auth Required

Covered without prior authorization by at least one policy, though another does not cover it (medium confidence)

Documentation Required

Claims must report the precise level(s) of subluxation as the primary diagnosis and the neuromusculoskeletal condition necessitating treatment as the secondary diagnosis.
Each claim must include date of initiation of the course of treatment, symptom/secondary diagnosis code(s), subluxation/primary diagnosis code(s), date of service, place of service, and procedure code; missing items may cause denial or delay.
Diagnosis codes supporting medical necessity must be submitted with each claim; progress notes need not accompany each claim but must be maintained and available upon request.
Chiropractor must file the claim, and when providing active/corrective treatment they must append the AT modifier; if provider believes service is likely to be denied, an Advance Beneficiary Notification (ABN) must be obtained and the GA modifier used.

Key Coverage Criteria

Medicare covers manual manipulation of the spine (chiropractic manipulative treatment) for treatment of spinal subluxation using CPT codes 98940, 98941, or 98942 when medically necessary.
Subluxation must be demonstrated and documented (by x-ray or physician/chiropractic exam) with the problem/complaint addressed and the precise level of each subluxation treated specified in the medical record.
Active/corrective treatment for acute or chronic subluxation requires use of the AT modifier on claims.
Clinical findings supporting subluxation should follow PART elements (Pain, Asymmetry/misalignment, Range of motion abnormality, Tissue/tone changes) documented by observation, palpation, imaging, or measurement as appropriate.
CT or MRI scans of the head or neck are covered when the medical record documents the scan is reasonable and necessary for diagnostic evaluation.
Coverage requires documentation supporting clinical indication such as history and physical exam findings, laboratory results, and signs or symptoms that justify the diagnostic test.

16 Active Policies

A57452, Billing and Coding: Peripheral Nerve Blocks

NGS-J6-L36850, Peripheral Nerve Blocks

NGS-JK-L36850, Peripheral Nerve Blocks

ANTHEM-CG-SURG-73, Balloon Sinus Ostial Dilation

AMBETTER-CP.MP.155, EEG in the Evaluation of Headache

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R51.9, Headache, unspecified