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PAYER POLICY CHANGES

71271 Insurance Policy Changes

CPT 71271, in plain terms, covers Low dose CT of the chest for lung cancer screening, performed without contrast dye. CPT 71271 is referenced in 14 tracked payer policy changes from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, and 8 other payers. For billers and coders, staying current on payer-specific coverage criteria, reimbursement rules, and prior-authorization requirements for CPT 71271 is critical to clean claim submission. Each entry below links to the full policy analysis with effective dates and action steps.

Official descriptor: CPT 71271 on AAPC

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REFERENCE DATA

Payers with rules21
Payers requiring prior auth21
  • Aetna · Effective November 1, 2026

    Prior authorization required in some cases

    Participating provider precertification list for Aetna

  • Anthem BCBS · Effective November 1, 2026

    Prior authorization required

    Anthem Local PPO Precertification/Prior Authorization List (California | Anthem Blue Cross | Commercial)

  • BCBS Arizona · Effective October 1, 2026

    Prior authorization required in some cases

    AZ Blue Standard Prior Authorization Requirements Code List (Updated 10/01/2026)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does Aetna require prior authorization for 71271?

Aetna lists 71271 on Participating provider precertification list for Aetna for commercial plans, with conditions (list dated November 1, 2026). Verify with the payer before scheduling.

Does Ambetter require prior authorization for 71271?

Ambetter lists 71271 on Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health CMS-0057-F prior authorization requirements for exchange plans (list dated December 31, 2025). Verify with the payer before scheduling.

Does AmeriHealth Caritas require prior authorization for 71271?

AmeriHealth Caritas lists 71271 on AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina Utilization Review Matrix 2025 for medicaid managed plans (list dated January 1, 2025). Verify with the payer before scheduling.

Does Anthem BCBS require prior authorization for 71271?

Anthem BCBS lists 71271 on Anthem Local PPO Precertification/Prior Authorization List (California | Anthem Blue Cross | Commercial) for commercial plans (list dated November 1, 2026). Verify with the payer before scheduling.

Does Arizona Complete Health require prior authorization for 71271?

Arizona Complete Health lists 71271 on Arizona Complete Health CMS-0057-F prior authorization requirements for medicaid managed plans (list dated December 31, 2025). Verify with the payer before scheduling.

What insurance policy changes affect CPT 71271?

There are 14 tracked policy changes affecting CPT 71271, including updates from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Health Net. Each change may modify coverage criteria, reimbursement rates, or prior-authorization requirements.

Which payers have updated policy for CPT 71271?

Payers that have issued tracked updates for CPT 71271 include: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Health Net, Sentara Health Plans, Premera Blue Cross, Ambetter, NY Medicaid, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Aetna, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi.

How do I get notified when CPT 71271 policy changes?

Create a free account at PolicyChanges.app and save a search filtered to CPT 71271. You will get an email when new policy changes reference this code: daily or weekly, your choice, on every plan.

Why do payers change policies for CPT 71271?

Payers revise policies for individual billing codes to align with updated clinical guidelines, CMS rule changes, fraud and abuse prevention measures, or network cost-management goals. Changes can affect medical necessity criteria, place-of-service restrictions, bundling rules, or whether a code requires prior authorization.

See every payer rule for 71271

Prior authorization lists, coverage criteria, NCCI edits and Medicare coverage articles for 71271 in one place.

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