What insurance policy changes affect code I49.82?

There are 26 tracked policy changes affecting code I49.82, including updates from Medicare/CMS - Transmittals, UnitedHealthcare, Independence Blue Cross. Each change may modify coverage criteria, reimbursement rates, or prior-authorization requirements.

Which payers have updated policy for code I49.82?

Payers that have issued tracked updates for code I49.82 include: Medicare/CMS - Transmittals, UnitedHealthcare, Independence Blue Cross, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

How do I get notified when code I49.82 policy changes?

Create a free account at PolicyChanges.app and save a search filtered to code I49.82. 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 I49.82?

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.

PAYER POLICY CHANGES

I49.82 Insurance Policy Changes

code I49.82 is referenced in 26 tracked payer policy changes from Medicare/CMS - Transmittals, UnitedHealthcare, and 3 other payers. For billers and coders, staying current on payer-specific coverage criteria, reimbursement rules, and prior-authorization requirements for code I49.82 is critical to clean claim submission. Each entry below links to the full policy analysis with effective dates and action steps.

Medicare/CMS - Transmittals · Effective Jan 1, 2027Medium impact
R13923OTN: International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) and Other Coding Revisions to National Coverage Determinations (NCDs)- January 2027 2 of 2
Already effective September 30, 2026 and October 1, 2026: ICD-10 codes I42.00, I42.01, I42.09, I42.81, I42.89 and I47.22 were added to Groups 1 and 2 of NCD 20.4 for implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and I42.0 and I42.8 were end-dated from those groups. Codes were also added for PET (FDG) for oncologic conditions, microvolt T-wave alternans, cytogenic studies, and liver and intestinal transplantation. Place of service 11 was added to NCD 20.4 effective October 20, 2023, the general effective date for this update is January 1, 2027, and no policy is changed by these updates.
Medicare/CMS - Transmittals · Effective Jan 1, 2027Medium impact
R13903OTN: International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) and Other Coding Revisions to National Coverage Determinations (NCDs)- January 2027 2 of 2
CMS is making a quarterly update of ICD-10 coding for National Coverage Determinations (NCDs), with an effective date of January 1, 2027 and an implementation date of January 4, 2027. The coding changes add ICD-10 codes to NCD indications and groups effective October 1, 2026, and end-date I42.0 and I42.8 from Groups 1 and 2 effective September 30, 2026. No policy is changed by these updates, and any policy-related changes to NCDs continue through the NCD process.
Medicare/CMS - Transmittals · Effective Apr 1, 2027Medium impact
R14022OTN: International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) and Other Coding Revisions to National Coverage Determinations (NCDs)- April 2027.
CMS Transmittal 14022, dated October 23, 2026, is a quarterly maintenance update of ICD-10 coding and other coding updates for National Coverage Determinations, and it states that no policy is being changed as a result of these updates. The transmittal's stated effective date is April 1, 2027, with an implementation date of April 5, 2027, while the code changes in its table are dated September 30, 2026 (end dates) and October 1, 2026 (additions). The table also adds CPT 81459 for PGDX elio tissue complete CDx effective FDA approval July 30, 2026, until a specific PLA code is established, and adds HCPCS J9066 to the chemotherapy drugs associated with NCD 110.18 effective October 1, 2026.
UnitedHealthcare · Effective Oct 1, 2026High impact
Annual ICD-10 and Quarterly CPT/HCPCS Code Updates (UMR)
UnitedHealthcare's UMR medical policy update bulletin for October 2026 says the annual ICD-10 and quarterly CPT/HCPCS code changes took effect October 1, 2026 across its medical and drug policies. The billing team needs to add the new CPT, HCPCS and ICD-10 codes to charge entry, stop using the codes that were removed, and update the revised descriptions. The bulletin lists the code changes but does not state any coverage decisions beyond the policies it updates, so the practice should check each updated policy before billing the new codes.
UnitedHealthcare · Effective Oct 1, 2026High impact
Annual ICD-10 and Quarterly CPT/HCPCS Code Updates (Surest)
UnitedHealthcare's Surest medical policy update bulletin for October 2026 says the annual ICD-10 and quarterly CPT/HCPCS code changes took effect October 1, 2026 across its medical and drug policies. The billing team needs to add the new CPT, HCPCS and ICD-10 codes to charge entry, stop using the codes that were removed, and update the revised descriptions. The bulletin lists the code changes but does not state any coverage decisions beyond the policies it updates, so the practice should check each updated policy before billing the new codes.
Independence Blue Cross · Effective Oct 1, 2026High impact
MA07.026s, Ambulatory Electrocardiography (AECG) Monitoring and Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry (MCOT) Monitoring
Independence Blue Cross updated ICD-10 diagnosis codes for Medicare Advantage AECG/MCOT monitoring policy effective 10/01/2026. Three broad cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia codes (I42.0, I42.8, I49.8) were terminated and replaced with nine more specific codes that provide granular differentiation (e.g., familial-genetic dilated cardiomyopathy, Brugada syndrome, CPVT). Billing teams must update systems to use only the new codes to avoid claim denials.
Independence Blue Cross · Effective Oct 1, 2026High impact
11.02.06s, Catheter Ablation of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Independence Blue Cross updated ICD-10 diagnosis codes effective 10/01/2026 for catheter ablation of cardiac arrhythmias (Policy 11.02.06s). The code I49.8 (Other specified cardiac arrhythmias) was terminated and replaced with three more specific codes: I49.81 (Brugada syndrome), I49.82 (Ventricular bigeminy), and I49.89 (Other specified cardiac arrhythmias not elsewhere classified). Billing teams must update coding systems to use the new codes for claims on or after the effective date.
Independence Blue Cross · Effective Oct 1, 2026High impact
07.02.21s, Ambulatory Electrocardiography (AECG) Monitoring and Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry (MCOT) Monitoring
Independence Blue Cross updated ICD-10 diagnosis codes for AECG/MCOT monitoring policy effective 10/01/2026. Nine codes were terminated and replaced with more specific codes that better capture dilated cardiomyopathy subtypes, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, and specific arrhythmia diagnoses including CPVT, Brugada syndrome, and ventricular bigeminy. Billing teams must update claim submission systems to use only the new codes to avoid claim denials.
Independence Blue Cross · Effective Oct 1, 2026High impact
05.00.77g, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators
Independence Blue Cross updated ICD-10 diagnosis codes effective 10/01/2026 for Policy 05.00.77g (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators). Three codes were terminated (I42.0, I42.8, I49.8) and nine new codes were added with greater specificity, including new codes for Brugada syndrome (I49.81), catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (I47.22), ventricular bigeminy (I49.82), and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (I42.81). The policy itself was not fully reviewed; this is a routine annual ICD-10 code update.
UnitedHealthcare · Effective Oct 1, 2026High impact
Preventive Care Services
UnitedHealthcare's individual exchange (ACA marketplace) preventive care policy was updated effective October 1, 2026, which is already in effect. The update refreshed the pregnancy ICD-10 diagnosis codes, added several sudden cardiac arrest and death diagnosis codes while removing two, added breast MRI codes 76014 through 76019 and A9573 for completing breast cancer screening, and clarified that certain colonoscopies may need a site of service review.
UnitedHealthcare · Effective Oct 1, 2026High impact
Preventive Care Services
UnitedHealthcare's commercial preventive care policy was updated effective October 1, 2026, which is already in effect. The update refreshed the pregnancy ICD-10 diagnosis codes, added several sudden cardiac arrest and death diagnosis codes while removing two, added breast MRI codes 76014 through 76019 and A9573 for completing breast cancer screening, and clarified that certain colonoscopies may need a site of service review.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi · Effective Oct 1, 2026High impact
Autonomic Nervous System Testing
The Code Reference section was updated on 10/01/2026 to add ICD-10 diagnosis codes I49.81 (Brugada syndrome), I49.82 (ventricular bigeminy), and I49.89 (other specified cardiac arrhythmias not elsewhere classified). The code I49.8 (other specified cardiac arrhythmias) is shown as deleted 09/30/2026, and ICD-9 diagnosis codes were removed. The policy states that ANS testing may be considered medically necessary to evaluate symptoms of vasomotor instability after more common causes have been excluded by other testing, for the listed indications, and is investigational for all other indications.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi · Effective Oct 1, 2026High impact
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
Transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator use for primary prevention may be considered medically necessary in adults with ischemic cardiomyopathy, nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, cardiac ion channelopathies or cardiac sarcoid when the listed criteria are met, and for secondary prevention after a life-threatening ventricular arrhythmic event. A subcutaneous ICD may be considered medically necessary when the listed criteria are met, including a contraindication to a transvenous ICD, while an extravascular ICD is considered investigational. Effective 10/01/2026, ICD-10 diagnosis codes I42.00, I42.01, I42.09, I42.81, I42.89, I47.22, I49.81, I49.82 and I49.89 were added, and I42.0, I42.8 and I49.8 were deleted as of 09/30/2026.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi · Effective Oct 1, 2026High impact
Ambulatory Event Monitors and Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry
The policy's 05/04/2026 update changed mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry (MCOT) from investigational to medically necessary when the listed criteria are met. Those criteria are recurrent unexplained clinically significant presyncope, syncope, severe palpitations or dizziness where an arrhythmia is thought to be the most likely diagnosis and a Holter monitor or external ambulatory event monitor was nondiagnostic or contraindicated, with documentation that real-time monitoring is essential for patient safety and will lead to immediate clinical changes; or cryptogenic stroke thought to be caused by atrial fibrillation with a non-diagnostic 24- to 48-hour Holter monitor or 48-hour telemetry. The same update removed ICD-9 codes and deleted codes HCPCS G2066 and ICD-10 I47.1 from the code reference, and the code reference lists ICD-10 codes I47.22, I49.81, I49.82 and I49.89 as new effective 10/01/2026.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota · Identified Oct 24, 2026High impact
Medical Policy Updates for Non-Migrated Members
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota's October 22, 2026 notice for non-migrated commercial and Medicaid Expansion members lists medical policies reviewed by its Internal Medical Policy Committee on Oct. 13, 2026. The revised policies include reformatted criteria and policies with coding changes, such as procedure codes and diagnosis codes added to or removed from policies, including physical therapy covered-diagnosis lists and Category III T codes. The notice also lists tabled policies (Tumor Markers, where further research is needed) and states that benefit determinations are made based on the medical policy in effect at the time of service.
UnitedHealthcare · Effective Nov 1, 2026Medium impact
Ambulatory Electrocardiographic (AECG) Monitoring
UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage bulletin for November 2026 updated its Ambulatory Electrocardiographic (AECG) Monitoring policy, adding diagnosis codes I42.00, I42.01, I42.09, I42.81, I42.89, I47.22, I49.81, I49.82, and I49.89 to the applicable-codes list for CPT 93224–93229, 93241–93248, 93268, 93270–93272, and 0937T–0940T. The bulletin also notes that I42.0 and I49.8 were deleted Sep. 30, 2026, and the coverage document list was refreshed. Billing teams should update diagnosis coding for AECG monitoring claims to use the newly listed codes.
UnitedHealthcare · Effective Oct 1, 2026Medium impact
Annual ICD-10 and Quarterly CPT/HCPCS Code Updates (Exchange)
Effective October 1, 2026, UnitedHealthcare updated several Individual Exchange medical policies to match the annual ICD-10 and quarterly CPT/HCPCS code changes. The bulletin adds many new codes across areas such as cardiology, pregnancy, hematology, genetic testing and pain or rehabilitation, and it removes a smaller set of older codes.
UnitedHealthcare · Effective Oct 1, 2026Medium impact
Annual ICD-10 and Quarterly CPT/HCPCS Code Updates (Commercial)
UnitedHealthcare's Commercial medical and drug policies were updated effective October 1, 2026 to match the annual ICD-10 and quarterly CPT/HCPCS code changes. Codes were added, revised or removed across topics including genetic testing, molecular oncology, cell therapy, pregnancy preventive care, sudden cardiac arrest risk and Category III codes, so the billing team needs to update its code lists and charge entry tables to match.
Independence Blue Cross · Effective Oct 1, 2026Medium impact
MA11.060i, Catheter Ablation of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Independence Blue Cross updated MA11.060i effective 10/01/2026 to reflect ICD-10 code changes for catheter ablation of cardiac arrhythmias. The terminated code I49.8 (Other specified cardiac arrhythmias) has been replaced with three new codes: I49.81 (Brugada syndrome), I49.82 (Ventricular bigeminy), and I49.89 (Other specified cardiac arrhythmias not elsewhere classified). Billing teams must update diagnosis code mappings in their systems to ensure accurate claims submission.
Independence Blue Cross · Effective Oct 1, 2026Medium impact
MA11.011i, Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs)
Independence Blue Cross updated VAD policy MA11.011i with ICD-10 code changes effective 10/01/2026, replacing nine outdated diagnosis codes with nine more specific codes reflecting current cardiac condition classifications. Additionally, the policy reaffirms requirement that VAD patients must be managed by an explicitly identified multidisciplinary team at approved facilities.
UnitedHealthcare · Effective Oct 1, 2026Medium impact
Preventive Care Services
UnitedHealthcare updated preventive care coverage effective October 1, 2026, adding new CPT codes for breast MRI screening (76014-76019, A9573), expanding cardiac risk assessment diagnosis codes, and clarifying that certain colonoscopies may require site-of-service review. Multiple ICD-10 diagnosis code lists were updated for pregnancy-related conditions, cardiac conditions, and genetic/family history risk factors.
UnitedHealthcare · Effective Oct 1, 2026Medium impact
Preventive Care Services
UnitedHealthcare and Surest updated the Preventive Care Services medical policy, effective October 1, 2026. The changes add or remove diagnosis codes for pregnancy, sudden cardiac arrest and family history, add breast MRI codes used to complete a breast cancer screening, and clarify that some colonoscopies may need a site of service review.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi · Effective Oct 1, 2026Medium impact
Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillators
Prior authorization and Care Management approval are required for a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) used for ischemic cardiomyopathy following an acute myocardial infarction and for newly diagnosed nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Effective 2026-10-01, the Code Reference adds ICD-10 codes I42.00, I42.01, I42.09, I42.81, I42.89, I47.22, I49.81, I49.82, and I49.89 and removes ICD-9 diagnosis codes. A WCD is medically necessary as interim treatment for individuals who meet the ICD criteria but have a temporary contraindication to an ICD, such as a systemic infection, and as a bridge to left ventricular improvement or possible ICD implantation in the covered indications.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi · Effective Oct 1, 2026Medium impact
Thyroid Studies
Thyroid function testing may be considered medically necessary to distinguish primary from secondary hypothyroidism, to confirm or rule out primary hypothyroidism or primary hyperthyroidism, and to monitor thyroid hormone levels and drug therapy. Thyroid testing may be considered medically necessary up to two times a calendar year in clinically stable, euthyroid patients, and more frequent testing may be considered when thyroid therapy has been altered or when signs or symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism are present. The code reference section was updated on 10/01/2026 to remove ICD-10 diagnosis code E78.01 and add ICD-10 diagnosis codes I49.81, I49.82 and I49.89.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi · Effective Oct 1, 2026Medium impact
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Chest and Cardiac
MRI of the chest is medically necessary for indications including mediastinal or hilar masses in patients with renal failure or contrast allergy, myasthenia gravis with suspected thymoma, brachial plexus dysfunction, thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection, congenital heart disease, and palpable chest or chest wall masses. Cardiac MRI is medically necessary for indications including first pass perfusion, ventricular tachycardia, severe aortic valve dysfunction, myocardial viability, infiltrative heart disease, pericardial or cardiac masses, and cases where stress echocardiography is contraindicated or its results are inadequate or discordant. Chest and heart MRI is not medically necessary for all other indications, including screening of asymptomatic patients. A 10/01/2026 code reference update added ICD-10 codes I42.00, I42.01, I42.09, I42.81, I42.89, I47.22, I49.81, I49.82, I49.89 and QA1.792.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi · Effective Oct 1, 2026Medium impact
Cardiac Rehabilitation in the Outpatient Setting
Phase II cardiac rehabilitation may be offered to patients with qualifying cardiovascular diagnoses, including myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, angioplasty or stent, arrhythmia, and severely depressed left ventricular function with ejection fraction below 30 percent. Formal cardiac rehabilitation should be initiated within 3 months after hospital discharge, and covered visits are 12 for low risk, 24 for moderate risk and 36 for high risk. Formal services must be conducted at a facility with current AACVPR certification, and prior approval is required for Fully Insured and most Self-Insured Groups.

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R13923OTN: International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) and Other Coding Revisions to National Coverage Determinations (NCDs)- January 2027 2 of 2

R13903OTN: International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) and Other Coding Revisions to National Coverage Determinations (NCDs)- January 2027 2 of 2

R14022OTN: International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) and Other Coding Revisions to National Coverage Determinations (NCDs)- April 2027.

Annual ICD-10 and Quarterly CPT/HCPCS Code Updates (UMR)

Annual ICD-10 and Quarterly CPT/HCPCS Code Updates (Surest)

MA07.026s, Ambulatory Electrocardiography (AECG) Monitoring and Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry (MCOT) Monitoring

11.02.06s, Catheter Ablation of Cardiac Arrhythmias

07.02.21s, Ambulatory Electrocardiography (AECG) Monitoring and Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry (MCOT) Monitoring

05.00.77g, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Preventive Care Services

Preventive Care Services

Autonomic Nervous System Testing

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

Ambulatory Event Monitors and Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry

Medical Policy Updates for Non-Migrated Members

Ambulatory Electrocardiographic (AECG) Monitoring

Annual ICD-10 and Quarterly CPT/HCPCS Code Updates (Exchange)

Annual ICD-10 and Quarterly CPT/HCPCS Code Updates (Commercial)

MA11.060i, Catheter Ablation of Cardiac Arrhythmias

MA11.011i, Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs)

Preventive Care Services

Preventive Care Services

Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Thyroid Studies

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Chest and Cardiac

Cardiac Rehabilitation in the Outpatient Setting

What insurance policy changes affect code I49.82?

Which payers have updated policy for code I49.82?

How do I get notified when code I49.82 policy changes?

Why do payers change policies for code I49.82?