G40.919 Insurance Policy Changes

ICD-10 G40.919 is officially defined as "Epilepsy, unspecified, intractable, without status epilepticus." code G40.919 is referenced in 20 tracked payer policy changes from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, and 2 other payers. For billers and coders, staying current on payer-specific coverage criteria, reimbursement rules, and prior-authorization requirements for code G40.919 is critical to clean claim submission. Each entry below links to the full policy analysis with effective dates and action steps.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield · Effective May 15, 2026High impact
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) – Head Imaging 6.01.47
Effective May 15, 2026, Excellus BCBS policy 6.01.47 sets the criteria for PET head imaging, which were removed from CMP 6.01.07. The 01/22/26 update added a medically necessary statement for amyloid brain PET (CPT 78814 or 78811) when a diagnosis of MCI or dementia due to Alzheimer disease is suspected, and a statement that perfusion PET brain (CPT 78609) is not medically necessary in the evaluation of dementia. FDG brain PET (CPT 78608) is medically necessary for mild cognitive impairment, dementia evaluation, Lewy body dementia versus Alzheimer disease, suspected encephalitis, and pre-surgical evaluation of refractory seizure when all listed criteria are met, and it is not medically necessary for Parkinson disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield · Effective Aug 20, 2026Medium impact
Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Vagus Nerve Blocking Therapy 7.01.05
Implanted vagus nerve stimulation is medically appropriate as a treatment for medically refractory seizures, and it is investigational as a treatment for depression or any other non-epileptic condition. Vagus nerve stimulation implants that detect and stimulate based on increased heart rate, such as the AspireSR Model, are investigational for all indications, and vagus nerve blocking therapy is investigational as a treatment for morbid obesity. The August 20, 2026 update was an annual review with the policy intent unchanged.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi · Effective Oct 1, 2025Medium impact
Genetic Testing for Epilepsy
Already effective 2025-10-01: the code reference added ICD-10 diagnosis code QA0.0101 for SCN2A-related neurodevelopmental disorder. Genetic testing for genes associated with infantile- and early-childhood-onset epilepsy syndromes, in which epilepsy is the core clinical symptom, may be considered medically necessary when positive test results may lead to changes in medication management, changes in diagnostic testing so that alternative potentially invasive tests are avoided, or changes in reproductive decision making. Genetic testing for epilepsy is considered investigational for all other situations.
Aetna · Identified Oct 23, 2026Medium impact
Actigraphy and Accelerometry (CPB 0710, reviewed 2026-10-15)
Aetna considers actigraphy testing (for example, Actiwatch) and accelerometry experimental, investigational, or unproven for listed uses, including diagnosing sleep disorders, diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, diagnosing hypertension, detecting seizures during sleep, and monitoring individuals with motor neuron diseases. CPT 95803 (actigraphy testing, minimum of 72 hours to 14 consecutive days of recording) and many listed ICD-10 codes, including those for depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and cerebral infarction, are not covered for the indications listed.
Aetna · Identified Oct 5, 2026Medium impact
Lead Testing (CPB 0553, reviewed 2026-08-28)
Aetna considers blood lead testing medically necessary for diagnosis of persons with signs and symptoms of lead poisoning and for pregnant or lactating women who have any listed lead exposure risk factor. Lead screening is covered for persons with occupational lead exposure and, as a preventive service, for children in listed high-risk groups. Measurement of lead in bone, hair, teeth, or urine is considered experimental, investigational, or unproven.
Aetna · Identified Oct 4, 2026Medium impact
Autologous Skeletal Myoblast/Mononuclear Bone Marrow Cell Transplantation (CPB 0599, reviewed 2026-09-18)
Autologous skeletal myoblast transplantation, intra-coronary and intra-myocardial autologous bone marrow cell transplantation, and intra-arterial or intra-muscular autologous mononuclear bone marrow cell transplantation are considered experimental, investigational, or unproven because effectiveness has not been established. Autologous or allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation is likewise considered experimental, investigational, or unproven for conditions including acute myocardial infarction, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, knee osteoarthritis, spinal cord injury, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and peripheral nerve repair. CPT codes 0263T, 0264T, 0265T, 38240, and 38241 and HCPCS code C9782 are listed as not covered for the listed indications, and the ICD-10 codes for those indications are listed as not covered for these services.
Aetna · Identified Aug 18, 2026Medium impact
Obsolete and Unreliable Tests and Procedures (CPB 0438, reviewed 2026-07-16)
Aetna considers a list of tests experimental, investigational, or unproven because CMS has determined they are obsolete or unreliable, they have been replaced by more advanced procedures, or professional specialty societies do not recommend them, and the list includes the lupus erythematosus cell test, cardiointegram, and several serum and skin tests. Aetna also considers a set of obsolete procedures experimental, investigational, or unproven, including colectomy to treat epilepsy, mammary artery ligation for coronary artery disease, optic nerve decompression for non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, radiation therapy for acne, Ali Krogius procedure for patellofemoral instability, and visceral osteopathy. Each listed test or procedure has CPT, HCPCS, or ICD-10 codes that are not covered for the indications the policy names.
Aetna · Identified Aug 18, 2026Medium impact
Hospitalization for the Initiation of Ketogenic Diet (CPB 0226, reviewed 2026-04-23)
Aetna considers hospitalization for initiation of a ketogenic diet medically necessary for intractable seizures, including Doose syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, when all listed selection criteria are met, and for persons with glucose transporter protein type 1 deficiency or pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency. Aetna considers hospitalization for initiation of a ketogenic diet of unproven value for all other indications, including adult super-refractory status epilepticus, Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorder, cancer, migraine prevention, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes. Hospitalization for initiation of the Atkins diet for intractable seizures, mitochondrial diseases, or other indications is considered experimental, investigational, or unproven.
Aetna · Identified Aug 17, 2026Medium impact
Fetal Echocardiography and Magnetocardiography (CPB 0106, reviewed 2026-03-26)
Aetna considers fetal echocardiograms, Doppler and color flow mapping after 12 weeks gestation medically necessary for listed indications. These include a mother with type 1 diabetes or pregestational type 2 diabetes on insulin during the first trimester, a mother with systemic lupus erythematosus, a fetal nuchal translucency of 3.5 mm or greater in the first trimester, pregnancies conceived by IVF or ICSI, monochorionic twins, suspected twin-twin transfusion syndrome, suspected or documented fetal arrhythmia, suspected or known fetal chromosomal abnormalities, single umbilical artery, persistent right umbilical vein, non-immune fetal hydrops or unexplained severe polyhydramnios, and seizure disorders in members even if they are not taking anti-seizure medication. Fetal exposure to anti-seizure medications, excessive alcohol, lithium, paroxetine or retinoids is also a listed indication. Repeat studies are covered for listed findings and for fetal surveillance of anti-Ro (SSA) or anti-La (SSB) exposure, which may be repeated every 1 to 2 weeks starting at 16 weeks gestation through 28 weeks, then every other week until 32 weeks. Fetal echocardiograms for advanced maternal age screening, gestational diabetes even if requiring insulin after the first trimester, modafinil exposure, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors except paroxetine, tacrolimus, a tortuous ductus arteriosus, and suspected cystic fibrosis are experimental, investigational or unproven. Fetal magnetocardiography and deep learning-based models for diagnosing fetal arrhythmia are also experimental, investigational or unproven.
Aetna · Identified Aug 17, 2026Medium impact
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (CPB 0083, reviewed 2026-03-11)
Aetna considers stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) medically necessary in certain circumstances, and refers to the eviCore Healthcare Radiation Therapy Clinical Guidelines for medical necessity criteria. Cranial SRS is medically necessary for benign brain and spinal tumors, cranial arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations and hemangiomas, trigeminal neuralgia that has not responded to more conservative treatments, severe essential tremor not adequately responsive to standard medical therapy, disabling tremor in Parkinson's disease for patients who meet thalamotomy criteria but are not surgical candidates, and primary brain tumors and primary or secondary tumors involving the spine. For brain metastases, SRS is considered appropriate with a Karnofsky Performance Status of 40 or greater (or expected to return to 70 or greater), or an ECOG status of 3 or less (or expected to return to 2 or less), fewer than 10 metastatic lesions, and control of or expected control of extracranial disease. Stereotactic body radiation therapy is medically necessary for liver or hepatobiliary cancer stage I to II, organ-confined prostate cancer, inoperable stage I or IIA lung cancer, unresectable stage I to III pancreatic cancer, recurrent disease requiring re-irradiation, and oligometastatic breast, non-small cell lung, colorectal, renal cell, prostate, sarcoma, melanoma and head and neck cancers with 1 to 5 total metastases, and Aetna considers SRS experimental, investigational, or unproven for cluster headaches, epilepsy (except when associated with treatment of arteriovenous malformations or brain tumors), and mammographic microcalcification.
Aetna · Identified Aug 15, 2026Medium impact
Quantitative EEG (Brain Mapping) (CPB 0221, reviewed 2026-04-14)
Aetna considers quantitative EEG (brain mapping, also called BEAM) medically necessary only as an adjunct to traditional EEG for specified uses, including ambulatory EEG recording to facilitate later expert visual interpretation, continuous EEG monitoring by frequency-trending in the operating room or ICU, and topographic voltage and dipole analysis in pre-surgical evaluations for intractable epilepsy. Aetna considers quantitative EEG experimental, investigational or unproven for all other indications, including attention disorders, autism spectrum disorders, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, insomnia, fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorder and post-concussion syndrome. The BrainScope One System (Ahead 300) is considered experimental, investigational or unproven for evaluation of concussion or traumatic brain injury.
Aetna · Identified Aug 15, 2026Medium impact
Carbogen Inhalation Therapy (CPB 0428, reviewed 2026-07-09)
Carbogen inhalation therapy (5% carbon dioxide and 95% oxygen) is considered experimental, investigational, or unproven for bladder cancer, central retinal artery occlusion, cervical cancer, fracture healing, head and neck cancers, optic nerve damage or degeneration, prostate cancer, retinal artery occlusion, seizures, stroke, and sudden hearing loss. The policy lists no specific CPT or HCPCS code for carbogen inhalation therapy, and the ICD-10 diagnosis codes for these indications are listed as not covered for carbogen inhalation therapy. The policy was last reviewed 07/09/2026.
Aetna · Identified Aug 12, 2026Medium impact
Ambulatory Electroencephalography (CPB 0425, reviewed 2026-07-07)
Aetna considers ambulatory EEG, with or without home video monitoring, medically necessary to classify seizure type in members with epilepsy when routine EEG is equivocal, to diagnose a seizure disorder when history, examination and routine EEG do not resolve the diagnostic uncertainty, and to localize the epileptogenic region during pre-surgical evaluation. These indications apply where the member has had a neurologic examination and standard EEG studies within the past 12 months. Combined ambulatory EEG and home-video recording is considered an equally acceptable alternative to ambulatory EEG alone, while ambulatory EEG for all other indications and implantable sub-scalp continuous EEG systems such as Epios and Minder for managing epilepsy are considered experimental, investigational or unproven.
Aetna · Identified Aug 12, 2026Medium impact
Actigraphy and Accelerometry (CPB 0710, reviewed 2025-10-14)
Aetna considers actigraphy testing experimental, investigational, or unproven for indications including defining lithium response dimensions in bipolar disorders, detection or screening of apnea, diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, diagnosis of hypertension, evaluation of depression, and evaluation of schizophrenia. Aetna considers accelerometry experimental, investigational, or unproven for indications including evaluating functional ability in the elderly, differential diagnosis of tremor syndromes, gait analysis in persons with hip osteoarthritis, and monitoring of physical activity during rehabilitation of persons with stroke. CPT code 95803 (actigraphy testing, recording, analysis, interpretation and report, minimum of 72 hours to 14 consecutive days of recording) and CPT codes 0533T through 0536T (continuous recording of movement disorder symptoms) are not covered for the indications listed in the policy.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi · Identified Jun 20, 2026Medium impact
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain for Presurgical Mapping or Seizure Focus Localization
Functional MRI of the brain may be considered medically necessary as a complementary test in the preoperative evaluation of individuals with refractory epilepsy or brain tumors who are candidates for neurosurgery when the lesion is in close proximity to an eloquent area of the brain (for example, one controlling verbal or motor function) and testing is expected to have an important role in assessing the spatial relation between the lesion and the eloquent brain area. Functional MRI is considered investigational for all other applications. The 01/31/2025 policy update changed the title to add presurgical mapping or seizure focus localization and changed the medical policy number to L.6.01.423, with the policy statements unchanged.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi · Identified Jun 20, 2026Medium impact
Magnetoencephalography/Magnetic Source Imaging
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetic source imaging (MSI) may be considered medically necessary for determining the laterality of language function as a substitute for the Wada test in patients preparing for surgery for epilepsy, brain tumors, and other indications requiring brain resection. MEG/MSI may also be considered medically necessary as part of the preoperative evaluation of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (seizures refractory to at least two first-line anticonvulsants) when standard techniques such as MRI and EEG do not provide satisfactory localization of epileptic lesion(s). MEG/MSI is considered investigational for all other indications.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi · Identified Jun 20, 2026Medium impact
Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Vagus nerve stimulation is considered medically necessary as a treatment of medically refractory seizures, defined as seizures that occur despite therapeutic levels of antiepileptic drugs, or seizures that cannot be treated with therapeutic levels of antiepileptic drugs because of intolerable adverse events of these drugs. It is considered investigational for depression, heart failure, upper-limb impairment due to stroke, essential tremor, headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, tinnitus and traumatic brain injury, including but not limited to these conditions, and transcutaneous (nonimplantable) vagus nerve stimulation devices are investigational for all indications. The 05/21/2026 update changed the policy statement to say vagus nerve stimulation is considered investigational as a treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and removed ICD-9 procedure and diagnosis codes from the code reference.
Health Net · Identified Jun 20, 2026Medium impact
20-947 Medical Policies - 3rd Quarter 2020
Medical policies approved in the third quarter of 2020 may apply to CalViva Health Medi-Cal members in Fresno, Kings and Madera counties where no California DHCS policy is available. New policies cover respiratory viral panel testing, thymus transplantation and related criteria, while updated policies change criteria for services such as trigger point injections (now a maximum of four per year, down from six), sacroiliac joint fusion, sacral nerve stimulation and mechanical stretching devices. Some codes were added, moved or removed, including L8613 (removed) and L8692 (added) for bone-anchored hearing aids.
Health Net · Identified Jun 20, 2026Medium impact
20-944 Medical Policies - 3rd Quarter 2020
Medical policies approved in the third quarter of 2020 by Centene's Corporate Clinical Policy Committee and/or Health Net's Medical Advisory Council include new policies for respiratory viral panel testing and thymus transplantation, and updated criteria for services such as trigger point injections (now a maximum of four per year, down from six), sacroiliac joint fusion, sacral nerve stimulation and mechanical stretching devices. Some codes were added, moved or removed, including L8613 (removed) and L8692 (added) for bone-anchored hearing aids.
Health Net · Identified Jun 20, 2026Medium impact
20-946 Medical Policies - 3rd Quarter 2020
Medical policies approved in the third quarter of 2020 by Centene's Corporate Clinical Policy Committee and/or Health Net's Medical Advisory Council include new policies for respiratory viral panel testing and thymus transplantation, and updated criteria for services such as trigger point injections (now a maximum of four per year, down from six), sacroiliac joint fusion, sacral nerve stimulation and mechanical stretching devices. Some codes were added, moved or removed, including L8613 (removed) and L8692 (added) for bone-anchored hearing aids. For Cal MediConnect members, Medicare and Medicaid national and local policies must be applied first for primary coverage guidance.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What insurance policy changes affect code G40.919?

There are 20 tracked policy changes affecting code G40.919, including updates from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, Aetna. Each change may modify coverage criteria, reimbursement rates, or prior-authorization requirements.

Which payers have updated policy for code G40.919?

Payers that have issued tracked updates for code G40.919 include: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, Aetna, Health Net.

How do I get notified when code G40.919 policy changes?

Create a free account at PolicyChanges.app and save a search filtered to code G40.919. 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 code G40.919?

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.

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Positron Emission Tomography (PET) – Head Imaging 6.01.47

Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Vagus Nerve Blocking Therapy 7.01.05

Genetic Testing for Epilepsy

Actigraphy and Accelerometry (CPB 0710, reviewed 2026-10-15)

Lead Testing (CPB 0553, reviewed 2026-08-28)

Autologous Skeletal Myoblast/Mononuclear Bone Marrow Cell Transplantation (CPB 0599, reviewed 2026-09-18)

Obsolete and Unreliable Tests and Procedures (CPB 0438, reviewed 2026-07-16)

Hospitalization for the Initiation of Ketogenic Diet (CPB 0226, reviewed 2026-04-23)

Fetal Echocardiography and Magnetocardiography (CPB 0106, reviewed 2026-03-26)

Stereotactic Radiosurgery (CPB 0083, reviewed 2026-03-11)

Quantitative EEG (Brain Mapping) (CPB 0221, reviewed 2026-04-14)

Carbogen Inhalation Therapy (CPB 0428, reviewed 2026-07-09)

Ambulatory Electroencephalography (CPB 0425, reviewed 2026-07-07)

Actigraphy and Accelerometry (CPB 0710, reviewed 2025-10-14)

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain for Presurgical Mapping or Seizure Focus Localization

Magnetoencephalography/Magnetic Source Imaging

Vagus Nerve Stimulation

20-947 Medical Policies - 3rd Quarter 2020

20-944 Medical Policies - 3rd Quarter 2020

20-946 Medical Policies - 3rd Quarter 2020

What insurance policy changes affect code G40.919?

Which payers have updated policy for code G40.919?

How do I get notified when code G40.919 policy changes?

Why do payers change policies for code G40.919?