Name of Manual - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Acne Treatment/ Skin
Rejuvenation and
Rosacea Treatment
(continued)
Anesthetic Agent
Injections
Coding Policies and Guidelines (Surgical Services)
The use of laser and light therapy, dermabrasion, chemical peels,
surgical debulking and electrosurgery to treat rosacea is
considered cosmetic and ineligible for reimbursement. The
treatment of telangiectasias is considered cosmetic and ineligible
for reimbursement.
Claim Audits
Routine claim audits have disclosed that some providers have been
submitting claims for therapies considered investigative, cosmetic
or not medically necessary for acne and rosacea treatment.
Adherence and Enforcement of Policy
Providers must abide by the requirements of all Medical Policies.
Blue Cross is taking action to enforce Medical Policies II-33 and
II-08 due to the volume of inappropriate claims. Claims will be
subject to retrospective review and denial, consistent with Medical
Policy. To view medical policies go to
providers.bluecrossmn.com and select then “medical policy”
under “tools & resources.”
Codes 64479-64484 indicate anesthetic agent injections in to the
levels of the spine. They should be billed per level and not per
injection. For example, a patient has an injection of the C2 and C3
bilaterally. The procedure should be coded as 64479-50 with one
unit. Two injections were given – one on the right and one on the
left; however, code 64479 represents cervical or thoracic, single
level.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Provider Policy and Procedure Manual (03/19/12)
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