CommercialCoverageMedium impact
Grenz Ray Therapy for Skin Disorders (CPB 0231, reviewed 2026-04-13)
Aetna·Dermatology·Medical Policy
Effective date
Apr 13, 2026
We identified it
Aug 17, 2026
Summary
Aetna has classified Grenz Ray Therapy for skin disorders as experimental, investigational, or unproven and will not cover it for any dermatologic indications listed in the policy. CPT code 96900 is not covered; providers must use unlisted code 77499 instead. A comprehensive list of ICD-10 codes for which Grenz Ray therapy will be denied is included, covering infectious diseases, neoplasms, skin disorders, burns, and cosmetic procedures.
Action Required
By April 13, 2026: Billing team must implement claim denial protocols for Aetna claims. (1) Do NOT bill CPT 96900 for Grenz Ray therapy under any circumstance for Aetna patients—all claims will be denied. (2) If providers attempt to bill Grenz Ray therapy, use unlisted code 77499 instead, with clear documentation that this is an experimental/investigational therapy not covered by Aetna. (3) Update billing software to flag all CPT 96900 claims from Aetna as non-covered services and route to providers for patient communication. (4) Train billing staff to recognize ICD-10 codes in ranges L00-L99 (skin diseases), A00.0-B99.9 (infectious diseases), C00.0-D49.9 (neoplasms), and other listed ranges—these diagnoses combined with Grenz Ray therapy codes will result in denial. (5) Provide patient financial counseling sheet to front desk: patients requesting Grenz Ray therapy for any skin condition should be informed this is not covered by Aetna and represents out-of-pocket expense. (6) Document patient acknowledgment (ABN or equivalent) before any Grenz Ray procedure for Aetna members. Failure to implement these changes will result in claim denials and patient billing disputes.