Spine Procedures for Managed Medicaid (MMC), Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) Members - (Effective Date - 2027-01-01) 7.01.126
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield policy 7.01.126 sets medical necessity criteria for spine procedures for Managed Medicaid, Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) members, with a current effective date of January 1, 2027. It covers cervical arthrodesis, corpectomy, disc arthroplasty, anterior and posterior cervical decompression, lumbar arthrodesis, lumbar decompression, lumbar discectomy, lumbar osteotomy and pediatric scoliosis surgery, and it considers percutaneous lumbar disc decompression and discectomy investigational. A policy edit dated 10/15/26 removed all site-of-care criteria and smoking-status criteria from lumbar decompression requirements.