MedicaidDocumentationMedium impact
Nucleic Acid Testing
Alaska Medicaid·AK · Infectious Disease, Pathology, Family Medicine +1 more·Program Update
Effective date
Mar 1, 2026
We identified it
Jun 21, 2026
Summary
Starting March 1, 2026, Alaska Medicaid requires clinical documentation attachments for nucleic acid testing claims using non-specific CPT codes 87797, 87798, and 87799. Claims must include detailed medical necessity documentation explaining why more specific testing codes cannot be used.
Action Required
Before March 1, 2026: Billing team must update Alaska Medicaid claim submission procedures to require clinical documentation attachments for CPT codes 87797, 87798, and 87799. Documentation must include treating practitioner's order, clinical indication, patient history, reason for nucleic acid testing, and laboratory report. Update billing system to flag these codes for Alaska Medicaid claims. Claims will be denied if documentation shows screening without indication, routine panels without justification, research purposes, or repetitive testing without clinical change.