CommercialCoverageMedium impact
Microwave Tumor Ablation
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi·MS · Oncology, General Surgery, Radiology +2 more·Medical Policy
We identified it
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi has established a new medical policy A.7.01.133 defining coverage criteria for microwave tumor ablation (MWA), a minimally invasive procedure that uses microwave energy to destroy tumors. The policy specifies medical necessity criteria for hepatic and lung tumors, including size limitations and unresectability requirements.
Action Required
Immediately: Review all pending and future microwave ablation cases to ensure they meet the new medical necessity criteria. For hepatic tumors: verify tumor is unresectable and meets size criteria (single tumor ≤5 cm or up to 3 nodules ≤3 cm each). For lung tumors: confirm unresectability. Update pre-authorization workflows to reference policy A.7.01.133. Train clinical staff on documentation requirements to support medical necessity.