All PlansCoverageMedium impact
Skin Lesion Imaging and Spectroscopy
Regence BlueShield·Dermatology, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine·Coding
Effective date
Jan 1, 2026
We identified it
Jun 16, 2026
Summary
Effective January 1, 2026, multiple skin lesion imaging and spectroscopy technologies including electrical impedance spectroscopy, multispectral image analysis, optical coherence tomography, and reflectance confocal microscopy are now considered investigational and will not be covered. Providers may bill patients directly for these services but must inform them of financial responsibility before rendering services.
Action Required
Before January 1, 2026: Update billing procedures to identify claims using skin lesion imaging technologies (electrical impedance spectroscopy, multispectral image analysis, optical coherence tomography, reflectance confocal microscopy, fluorescent biotag imaging, Raman spectroscopy). Configure billing system to flag these as patient-pay services. Train front desk staff to inform patients of financial responsibility before scheduling these procedures. Update encounter forms and EMR templates with patient notification requirements.