Start free

PolicyChanges tracks payer policy changes for medical practices and tells you what to do before they take effect.

Create a free accountPolicy Monitoring is free. No card required.
← Back to list
Excellus BlueCross BlueShieldAll Plans · Coverage · Skin (Dermatology) · Dermatology, Oncology, PediatricsMedium impact

Light and Laser Therapies for Dermatologic Conditions 8.01.21

Effective date
Oct 22, 2026
Identified
Jun 20, 2026

Summary

Policy 8.01.21 considers UVB light, PUVA, UVA light, FDA-cleared targeted excimer phototherapy, home UVB phototherapy, 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy and pulsed dye laser for port wine birthmarks medically appropriate when the listed criteria are met. It considers targeted phototherapy for first-line treatment of mild psoriasis, generalized psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, and vitiligo investigational, along with photodynamic therapy with topical preparations for other conditions and light or laser treatment of acne. The current effective date is October 22, 2026, and the 10/22/26 annual review left the policy intent unchanged.

Get alerts when payers change rules like this one

We check Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and other payers every day and email you when a change matches your specialty and state.

Get Excellus BlueCross BlueShield alertsPolicy Monitoring is free. No card required.

What to do

Action · 5 steps
01Already effective 2026-10-22: Billing team: Before billing UVB, PUVA, UVA or excimer treatment, confirm that none of the listed contraindications apply, including xeroderma pigmentosum, disorders with significant light sensitivity such as albinism, and lupus erythematosus.
02Billing team: Medical necessity documentation, such as a treatment plan or photographs, is generally not required until after a threshold of 30 visits.
03Billing team: Home UVB phototherapy requires a letter of medical necessity from the patient's dermatologist stating why home-based rather than office-based therapy is needed, and the patient must have had ineffective courses of topical or systemic drug therapy.
04Billing team: Targeted phototherapy for first-line treatment of mild psoriasis, generalized psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, or vitiligo falls under the investigational statement in Policy Statement II.
05Billing team: The code 10040 is marked (E/I) when used for the TheraClear Acne System.

Codes mentioned

1004017106171071710896567965739657496900969109691296913969209692196922E0691E0692E0693E0694L57.0L80Q82.5L73.0

Original notice

Light and Laser Therapies for Dermatologic Conditions 8.01.21
excellusbcbs.com · Always check the source before changing claims.
View original ↗

Related changes

See all Excellus BlueCross BlueShield changes →
Cosmetic and Reconstructive Procedures 7.01.11MediumEffective Sep 17, 2026 · Cosmetic / Reconstructive SurgeryBrowse every Excellus BlueCross BlueShield change in the policy list

Related policy hubs

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield policiesDermatologyOncologyPediatricsCode 10040Code 17106Code 17107Code 17108Code 96567Code 96573Code 96574Code 96900Code 96910Code 96912Code 96913Code 96920Code 96921Code 96922Code E0691Code E0692Code E0693Code E0694Code L57.0Code L80Code Q82.5Code L73.0

Summaries are AI-assisted. Always confirm against the original payer notice.

What is PolicyChanges

One workspace for payer rules, prior auth, coding and compliance

Medical practices use PolicyChanges to catch payer changes before they cause denials. Every change is summarized in plain English, with the codes involved, the date it takes effect and what to do.

Policy MonitoringPayer policy, prior auth and coding changes, filtered to your saved searchesOIG ScreeningStaff and vendors screened every month against OIG LEIE, SAM.gov and state Medicaid listsPrior Auth LookupKnow if a service needs prior authorization before you schedule itCredentialing TrackerLicenses, CAQH, Medicare revalidation and payer enrollments, with reminders before anything lapsesCompliance CenterKeep your HIPAA program documented and ready to show
Start freePolicy Monitoring is free. No card required.
Get alerts for changes like thisPolicy Monitoring is free. No card required.Create a free account