LCD/NCD Portal
Automated World Health
Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Ophthalmoscopy (L28940)
Contractor Information
Contractor Name
First Coast Service Options, Inc. opens in new window
Contractor Number
09101
Contractor Type
MAC - Part A
LCD Information
Document Information
LCD ID Number L28940
LCD Title Ophthalmoscopy
Contractor's Determination Number A92225
Primary Geographic Jurisdiction opens in new window Florida
Oversight Region Region IV
AMA CPT/ADA CDT Copyright Statement
CPT only copyright 2002-2011 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.
Applicable FARS/DFARS Apply to Government Use. Fee schedules, relative value units, conversion factors and/or related components are not assigned by the AMA, are not part of CPT, and the AMA is not recommending their use. The AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. The AMA assumes no liability for data contained or not contained herein. The Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature (Code) is published in Current Dental Terminology (CDT). Copyright © American Dental Association. All rights reserved. CDT and CDT-2010 are trademarks of the American Dental Association.
Original Determination Effective Date
For services performed on or after 02/16/2009 Original Determination Ending Date
Revision Effective Date
For services performed on or after 10/01/2011 Revision Ending Date
CMS National Coverage Policy
Language quoted from CMS National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) and coverage provisions in interpretive manuals are italicized throughout the Local Coverage Determination (LCD). NCDs and coverage provisions in interpretive manuals are not subject to the LCD Review Process (42 CFR 405.860[b] and 42 CFR 426 [Subpart D]). In addition, an administrative law judge may not review an NCD. See § 1869 (f)(1)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act.
Unless other wise specified, italicized text represents quotation from one or more of the following CMS sources: N/A
Indications and Limitations of Coverage and/or Medical Necessity
Extended ophthalmoscopy is an assessment of the posterior segment of the eye (vitreous, retina, optic disc, choroids, etc.) with the pupil dilated using indirect ophthalmoscopy or slit lamp biomicroscopy. These techniques employ an additional diagnostic tool (eg, 3-mirror lens, 20-diopter lens, 90-diopter lens, scleral depression) and include a detailed drawing of the retina. Extended ophthalmoscopy provides a high intensity illumination, stereoscopic, wide field of view of the ocular fundus for detection and/or evaluation of vitreoretinal pathology.
Extended ophthalmoscopy codes are reserved for the meticulous evaluation of the eye in detailed documentation of a severe ophthalmologic problem needing continued follow-up, which cannot be sufficiently evaluated by photography.
Medicare will consider ophthalmoscopy (CPT Codes 92225, 92226) to be medically reasonable and necessary if any one of the following circumstances is present:
• The patient has a malignant neoplasm of the retina or choroid. This may appear as a single, round or oval, slightly elevated, gray or nonpigmented lesion.
• The patient has a retained (old) intraocular foreign body, either magnetic or nonmagnetic. Signs and symptoms may include a statement by the patient that something has hit his/her eye (foreign body sensation), normal or blurred vision, pain or no discomfort, and tearing.
• The patient has retinal hemorrhage, edema, ischemia, exudates and deposits, hereditary retinal dystrophies or peripheral retinal degeneration.
• The patient has retinal detachment with or without retinal defect. The patient may complain of light flashes, dark floating specks, and blurred vision that becomes progressively worse. This may be described by the patient as “a curtain came down over my eyes.”
• The patient has retinal defects without retinal detachment.
• The patient has diabetic retinopathy (e.g., background retinopathy or proliferative retinopathy), retinal vascular occlusion, or separation of the retinal layers. This may be evidenced by microaneurysms, cotton wool spots, exudates, hemorrhages, or fibrous proliferation.
• The patient has experienced sudden visual loss or transient visual loss. This may be described as trouble seeing or vision going in and out.
• The patient has chorioretinitis, chorioretinal scars or choroidal degeneration, dystrophies, hemorrhage and rupture, or detachment.
• The patient has Vogt-Koyanagi syndrome. This disease is characterized by bilateral uveitis, dysacousia, meningeal irritation, whitening of patches of hair (poliosis), vitiligo, and retinal detachment. The disease can be initiated by a severe headache, deep orbital pain, vertigo, and nausea.
• The patient has sustained a penetrating wound to the orbit resulting in the retention of a foreign body in the eye.
• The patient has disorders of the vitreous body (e.g., vitreous hemorrhage or posterior vitreous detachment). Spots before the eyes (floaters) and flashing lights (photopsia) can be signs/symptoms of these disorders.
• The patient has posterior scleritis. Signs and symptoms may include severe pain and inflammation, proptosis, limited ocular movements, and a loss of a portion of the visual field.
• The patient has degenerative disorders of the globe.
• The patient has retinoschisis and retinal cysts. Patients may complain of light flashes and floaters.
• The patient has signs and symptoms of endophthalmitis which may include severe pain, redness, photophobia, and profound loss of vision.
• The patient has glaucoma or is a glaucoma suspect. This may be evidenced by increased intraocular pressure or progressive cupping of the optic nerve. The patient's medical record must meet the documentation requirements set forth in this policy (see Documentation Requirements).
In all instances extended ophthalmoscopy must be medically necessary. It must add information not available from the standard evaluation services and/or information that will demonstrably affect the treatment plan. It is not necessary, for example, to confirm information already available by other means.
Coding Information
Bill Type Codes:
Contractors may specify Bill Types to help providers identify those Bill Types typically used to report this service. Absence of a Bill Type does not guarantee that the policy does not apply to that Bill Type. Complete absence of all Bill Types indicates that coverage is not influenced by Bill Type and the policy should be assumed to apply equally to all claims.
012x Hospital Inpatient (Medicare Part B only) 013x Hospital Outpatient
014x Hospital - Laboratory Services Provided to Non-patients 021x Skilled Nursing - Inpatient (Including Medicare Part A) 022x Skilled Nursing - Inpatient (Medicare Part B only) 023x Skilled Nursing - Outpatient
085x Critical Access Hospital
Revenue Codes:
Contractors may specify Revenue Codes to help providers identify those Revenue Codes typically used to report this service. In most instances Revenue Codes are purely advisory; unless specified in the policy services reported under other Revenue Codes are equally subject to this coverage determination. Complete absence of all Revenue Codes indicates that coverage is not influenced by Revenue Code and the policy should be assumed to apply equally to all Revenue Codes.
0920 Other Diagnostic Services - General Classification
CPT/HCPCS Codes
92225 OPHTHALMOSCOPY, EXTENDED, WITH RETINAL DRAWING (EG, FOR RETINAL DETACHMENT, MELANOMA), WITH INTERPRETATION AND REPORT; INITIAL
92226 OPHTHALMOSCOPY, EXTENDED, WITH RETINAL DRAWING (EG, FOR RETINAL DETACHMENT, MELANOMA), WITH INTERPRETATION AND REPORT; SUBSEQUENT
ICD-9 Codes that Support Medical Necessity
115.92 HISTOPLASMOSIS RETINITIS UNSPECIFIED
130.2 CHORIORETINITIS DUE TO TOXOPLASMOSIS
190.5 MALIGNANT NEOPLASM OF RETINA
190.6 MALIGNANT NEOPLASM OF CHOROID
224.5 BENIGN NEOPLASM OF RETINA
224.6 BENIGN NEOPLASM OF CHOROID
225.1 BENIGN NEOPLASM OF CRANIAL NERVES
228.03 HEMANGIOMA OF RETINA 360.00 - 360.04 opens in
new window PURULENT ENDOPHTHALMITIS UNSPECIFIED - VITREOUS ABSCESS
360.11 SYMPATHETIC UVEITIS
360.12 PANUVEITIS
360.13 PARASITIC ENDOPHTHALMITIS UNSPECIFIED
360.19 OTHER ENDOPHTHALMITIS
360.21 PROGRESSIVE HIGH (DEGENERATIVE) MYOPIA
360.23 SIDEROSIS OF GLOBE
360.24 OTHER METALLOSIS OF GLOBE
360.50 FOREIGN BODY MAGNETIC INTRAOCULAR UNSPECIFIED
360.52 FOREIGN BODY MAGNETIC IN IRIS OR CILIARY BODY
360.54 FOREIGN BODY MAGNETIC IN VITREOUS
360.55 FOREIGN BODY MAGNETIC IN POSTERIOR WALL
360.60 FOREIGN BODY INTRAOCULAR UNSPECIFIED
360.64 FOREIGN BODY IN VITREOUS
360.65 FOREIGN BODY IN POSTERIOR WALL OF EYE
361.00 - 361.07 opens in new window
361.10 - 361.19 RETINAL DETACH WITH RETINAL DEFECT UNSPECIFIED - OLD RETINAL DETACH TOTAL OR SUBTOTAL
RETINOSCHISIS UNSPECIFIED - OTHER RETINOSCHISIS AND RETINAL CYSTS
361.2 SEROUS RETINAL DETACH 361.30 - 361.33 opens in
new window RETINAL DEFECT UNSPECIFIED - MULTIPLE DEFECTS OF RETINA WITHOUT DETACH
361.81 - 361.89 opens in
new window TRACTION DETACH OF RETINA - OTHER FORMS OF RETINAL DETACH
362.1 * BACKGROUND DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
362.2 * PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
362.3 * NONPROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY NOS
362.5 * MODERATE NONPROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
362.6 * SEVERE NONPROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
362.7 * DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA
362.10 - 362.18 opens in
new window BACKGROUND RETINOPATHY UNSPECIFIED - RETINAL VASCULITIS
362.21 - 362.29 opens in
new window RETROLENTAL FIBROPLASIA - OTHER NONDIABETIC PROLIFERATIVE RETINOPATHY
362.30 - 362.37 opens in
new window RETINAL VASCULAR OCCLUSION UNSPECIFIED - VENOUS ENGORGEMENT OF RETINA
362.40 - 362.43 opens in new window
362.50 - 362.57 opens in new window
362.60 - 362.66 opens in new window
362.70 - 362.77 opens in new window
RETINAL LAYER SEPARATION UNSPECIFIED - HEMORRHAGIC DETACH OF RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM
MACULAR DEGENERATION (SENILE) OF RETINA UNSPECIFIED - DRUSEN (DEGENERATIVE) OF RETINA
PERIPHERAL RETINAL DEGENERATION UNSPECIFIED - SECONDARY VITREORETINAL DEGENERATIONS
HEREDITARY RETINAL DYSTROPHY UNSPECIFIED - RETINAL DYSTROPHIES PRIMARILY INVOLVING BRUCH'S MEMBRANE
362.81 RETINAL HEMORRHAGE
362.82 RETINAL EXUDATES AND DEPOSITS
362.83 RETINAL EDEMA
362.84 RETINAL ISCHEMIA
363.00 - 363.08 opens in new window
363.10 - 363.15 opens in new window
FOCAL CHORIORETINITIS UNSPECIFIED - FOCAL RETINITIS AND RETINOCHOROIDITIS PERIPHERAL
DISSEMINATED CHORIORETINITIS UNSPECIFIED - DISSEMINATED RETINITIS AND RETINOCHOROIDITIS PIGMENT EPITHELIOPATHY
363.20 CHORIORETINITIS UNSPECIFIED
363.21 PARS PLANITIS
363.22 HARADA'S DISEASE 363.30 - 363.35 opens in
new window CHORIORETINAL SCAR UNSPECIFIED - DISSEMINATED SCARS OF RETINA
363.40 - 363.43 opens in
new window CHOROIDAL DEGENERATION UNSPECIFIED - ANGIOID STREAKS OF CHOROID
363.50 - 363.57 opens in new window
363.61 - 363.63 opens in
HEREDITARY CHOROIDAL DYSTROPHY OR ATROPHY UNSPECIFIED - OTHER DIFFUSE OR GENERALIZED DYSTROPHY OF CHOROID TOTAL
new window CHOROIDAL HEMORRHAGE UNSPECIFIED - CHOROIDAL RUPTURE
363.70 - 363.72 opens in
new window CHOROIDAL DETACH UNSPECIFIED - HEMORRHAGIC CHOROIDAL DETACH
364.00 - 364.05 opens in
new window ACUTE AND SUBACUTE IRIDOCYCLITIS UNSPECIFIED - HYPOPYON
364.24 VOGT-KOYANAGI SYNDROME
365.00 - 365.06 opens in new window
365.10 - 365.15 opens in new window
PREGLAUCOMA UNSPECIFIED - PRIMARY ANGLE CLOSURE WITHOUT GLAUCOMA DAMAGE
OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA UNSPECIFIED - RESIDUAL STAGE OF OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA
365.20 - 365.24 opens in new window
365.31 - 365.32 opens in new window
365.41 - 365.44 opens in new window
365.51 - 365.59 PRIMARY ANGLE-CLOSURE GLAUCOMA UNSPECIFIED - RESIDUAL STAGE OF ANGLE- CLOSURE GLAUCOMA CORTICOSTEROID-INDUCED GLAUCOMA GLAUCOMATOUS STAGE - CORTICOSTEROID-INDUCED GLAUCOMA RESIDUAL STAGE GLAUCOMA ASSOCIATED WITH CHAMBER ANGLE ANOMALIES - GLAUCOMA ASSOCIATED WITH SYSTEMIC SYNDROMES PHACOLYTIC GLAUCOMA - GLAUCOMA ASSOCIATED WITH OTHER LENS DISORDERS
365.60 - 365.65 opens in new window
365.70 - 365.74 GLAUCOMA ASSOCIATED WITH UNSPECIFIED OCULAR DISORDER - GLAUCOMA ASSOCIATED WITH OCULAR TRAUMA GLAUCOMA STAGE, UNSPECIFIED - INDETERMINATE STAGE GLAUCOMA
365.81 - 365.89 opens in
new window HYPERSECRETION GLAUCOMA - OTHER SPECIFIED GLAUCOMA
365.9 UNSPECIFIED GLAUCOMA
368.11 SUDDEN VISUAL LOSS
368.12 TRANSIENT VISUAL LOSS
368.15 OTHER VISUAL DISTORTIONS AND ENTOPTIC PHENOMENA
376.6 RETAINED (OLD) FOREIGN BODY FOLLOWING PENETRATING WOUND OF ORBIT
377.00 PAPILLEDEMA UNSPECIFIED 377.10 - 377.16 opens in
new window OPTIC ATROPHY UNSPECIFIED - HEREDITARY OPTIC ATROPHY
377.21 - 377.24 opens in
new window DRUSEN OF OPTIC DISC - PSEUDOPAPILLEDEMA
377.30 OPTIC NEURITIS UNSPECIFIED
377.33 NUTRITIONAL OPTIC NEUROPATHY
377.34 TOXIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY 377.41 - 377.49 opens in
new window ISCHEMIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY - OTHER DISORDERS OF OPTIC NERVE
379.07 POSTERIOR SCLERITIS 379.21 - 379.29 opens in
new window VITREOUS DEGENERATION - OTHER DISORDERS OF VITREOUS
379.32 SUBLUXATION OF LENS
379.34 POSTERIOR DISLOCATION OF LENS
743.51 - 743.59 opens in new window
VITREOUS ANOMALIES CONGENITAL - OTHER CONGENITAL ANOMALIES OF POSTERIOR SEGMENT
759.5 TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS
759.6 OTHER CONGENITAL HAMARTOSES NOT ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED
759.82 MARFAN SYNDROME
871.0 - 871.9 opens in new window
OCULAR LACERATION WITHOUT PROLAPSE OF INTRAOCULAR TISSUE - UNSPECIFIED OPEN WOUND OF EYEBALL
921.3 CONTUSION OF EYEBALL
998.82 CATARACT FRAGMENTS IN EYE FOLLOWING CATARACT SURGERY
* To ensure reimbursement for this service when billing ICD-9-CM code 362.07, dual diagnoses must be submitted. An ICD-9-CM code from the following diagnosis codes 362.01-362.03, 362.05, or 362.06 (representing diabetic retinopathy) must be reported with ICD-9-CM code 362.07 (diabetic macular edema).
Diagnoses that Support Medical Necessity N/A
ICD-9 Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity N/A
ICD-9 Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity Asterisk Explanation
Diagnoses that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity N/A
General Information
Documentations Requirements
Medical record documentation (eg, office/progress notes) maintained by the ordering/referring physician must indicate the medical necessity of the extended ophthalmoscopy exam. The medical records must include the following:
• The complaint or symptomatology necessitating the extended ophthalmoscopy exam
• Notation that the eye examined was dilated and the drug used
• The method of examination (eg, lens, instrument used)
• A detailed drawing of the retina showing anatomy in the patient as seen at time of examination, including the pathology found and a legible narrative report of the findings
• An assessment of the change from previous examinations when performing follow-up services (92226)
If the provider of the service is other than the ordering/referring physician, that provider must maintain hard copy documentation of the ophthalmoscopy exam results and interpretation, along with copies of the ordering/referring physician’s order for the ophthalmoscopy. The physician must state the clinical indication/medical necessity for the ophthalmoscopy in the order for the exam.
Documentation in the medical record for a diagnosis of glaucoma (ICD-9 Code 365.00-365.9) must include all of the following:
• a detailed drawing of the optic nerve,
• documentation of cupping, disc rim, pallor, and slope, and
• documentation of any surrounding pathology around the optic nerve.
Appendices
Utilization Guidelines It is expected that these services would be performed as indicated by current medical literature and/or standards of practice. When services are performed in excess of established parameters, they
may be subject to review for medical necessity.
Sources of Information and Basis for Decision
Yanoff. (2004). Ophthalmology(2nd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.
Advisory Committee Meeting Notes This policy does not reflect the sole opinion of the contractor or contractor medical director. Although the final decision rests with the contractor, this policy was developed in cooperation
with advisory groups, which includes representatives from The Ophthalmology and Optometrist Societies.
Start Date of Comment Period
End Date of Comment Period
Start Date of Notice Period 12/04/2008
Revision History Number 1
Revision History Explanation Revision Number: 1 Start Date of Comment Period:N/A
Start Date of Notice Period:10/01/2011 Revised Effective Date:10/01/2011
LCR A2011-078
September 2011 Connection
Explanation of Revision: Annual 2012 ICD-9-CM Update. Added new diagnosis codes 365.05, 365.06, and 365.70
-365.74. The effective date of this revision is based on date of service.
Revision Number:Original
Start Date of Comment Period:N/A Start Date of Notice Period:12/04/2008 Revised Effective Date:02/16/2009
LCR A2009-
December 2008 Bulletin
This LCD consolidates and replaces all previous policies and publications on this subject by the fiscal intermediary predecessors of First Coast Service Options, Inc. (COSVI and FCSO).
For Florida (00090) this LCD (L28940) replaces LCD L1025 as the policy in notice. This document (L28940) is effective on 02/16/2009.
8/1/2010 - The description for Bill Type Code 12 was changed 8/1/2010 - The description for Bill Type Code 13 was changed 8/1/2010 - The description for Bill Type Code 14 was changed 8/1/2010 - The description for Bill Type Code 21 was changed 8/1/2010 - The description for Bill Type Code 22 was changed 8/1/2010 - The description for Bill Type Code 23 was changed 8/1/2010 - The description for Bill Type Code 85 was changed
8/1/2010 - The description for Revenue code 0920 was changed
11/21/2010 - For the following CPT/HCPCS codes either the short description and/or the long description was changed. Depending on which description is used in this LCD, there may not be any change in how the code displays in the document:
92225 descriptor was changed in Group 1 92226 descriptor was changed in Group 1
08/27/2011 - This policy was updated by the ICD-9 2011-2012 Annual Update.
Reason for Change
Related Documents
This LCD has no Related Documents.
LCD Attachments
There are no attachments for this LCD.
All Versions
Updated on 09/14/2011 with effective dates 10/01/2011 - N/A Updated on 11/21/2010 with effective dates 02/16/2009 - N/A Updated on 08/01/2010 with effective dates 02/16/2009 - N/A Updated on 08/01/2010 with effective dates 02/16/2009 - N/A Updated on 11/30/2008 with effective dates 02/16/2009 - N/A Read the LCD Disclaimer opens in new window