Special Alert November 2025 - 2026 Outpatient Site of Service
Effective 1/1/2026, Providence Health Plan (Commercial Fully Insured only) will require prior authorization to review medical necessity for hospital outpatient site of service (place of service 22) for hernia repair and laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures. Providers must perform these procedures at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) unless medical necessity criteria are met; the 3-hour prolonged surgery criterion is being removed. Providers without geographically accessible ASC availability must submit attestation to avoid prior authorization delays.