HCPCS Q4118 is officially defined as "Matristem micromatrix, 1 mg." HCPCS Q4118 is referenced in 6 tracked payer policy changes from Sentara Health Plans, Humana, and 3 other payers. For billers and coders, staying current on payer-specific coverage criteria, reimbursement rules, and prior-authorization requirements for HCPCS Q4118 is critical to clean claim submission. Each entry below links to the full policy analysis with effective dates and action steps.
Starting January 1, 2027, Sentara Health Plans will require prior authorization for a long list of codes on Virginia commercial plans, including self-funded (ASO) plans, and for code 88380 on commercial, Medicaid and Medicare products, plus code 22860 on Medicare products. Sentara will also stop covering a separate list of codes on Virginia commercial and self-funded plans.
Humana's revised Kentucky Medicaid policy on skin and tissue substitutes lists the only covered uses as diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers that have lasted more than 4 weeks, when standard wound care criteria are met, and states that prior authorization is required. The policy lists many HCPCS codes for these products as requiring prior authorization for Humana Healthy Horizons members in Kentucky. The source gives an effective date of 08/12/2026, and the code list in the provided text is cut off near the end.
Health Net California is updating prior authorization requirements effective December 1, 2025, removing PA requirements for many DME items, prosthetics, sleep studies, varicose vein treatments, and therapy services while maintaining PA requirements for non-emergency air transport, hysterectomies, and skin substitutes. These changes aim to reduce administrative burden and streamline approval processes.
Michigan Medicaid has revised its policy for skin and tissue substitutes, effective June 5, 2026. Coverage is limited to specific diabetic foot ulcers and chronic venous leg ulcers over 4 weeks duration when used with comprehensive standard wound therapy, with strict documentation requirements for all criteria.
CMS is amending the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB) payment files for the July 2026 update. The amendments apply to services furnished between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026, and they follow the 2026 MPFS Final Rule. The attached table adds codes such as the new code G0577, sets July 1, 2026 effective dates for many HCPCS and CPT code updates, and revises short descriptors, physician supervision indicators, and effective dates for other listed codes. This transmittal replaces Transmittal 13838, which was issued June 23, 2026, to correct an error in the attachment.
Several listed tissue-engineered skin substitutes may be considered medically necessary for specific uses, including breast reconstruction with listed acellular dermal matrix products, chronic noninfected full-thickness diabetic lower-extremity ulcers, chronic venous insufficiency ulcers that have not adequately responded to a 1-month period of conventional ulcer therapy, dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, and second- and third-degree burns. All other uses of the listed products, and all other skin and soft tissue substitutes not listed, are considered investigational. Code reference updates dated 07/01/2026, 08/15/2026 and 10/01/2026 add CPT 1045T through 1049T, HCPCS C9353 and C9361, and HCPCS A2046, A2047, A2048 and A2050 as investigational codes.
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