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Hair Analysis (CPB 0300, reviewed 2026-04-17)
Effective date
Not stated in the notice
Identified
Aug 17, 2026
Summary
Aetna considers chemical hair analysis experimental, investigational or unproven, except for diagnosis of suspected chronic arsenic poisoning, and considers hair analysis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a predictor of developing psychopathological symptoms in childhood experimental, investigational or unproven. Microscopic evaluation of hair structure (trichogram) may be medically necessary as part of the work-up of members with alopecia or abnormal-appearing or abnormally growing hair.
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What to do
Action · 4 steps
01Billing team: CPT 82175 (arsenic) and CPT 83015 (heavy metal screen) are covered if selection criteria are met, with the covered ICD-10 codes T37.8X1A through T37.96XS, T57.0X1A through T57.0X4S, and Z13.88 (suspected chronic arsenic poisoning).
02HCPCS P2031 (hair analysis, excluding arsenic) is not covered for the indications listed in the bulletin.
03CPT 96902 (microscopic examination of hairs to determine telogen and anagen counts or structural hair shaft abnormality) is covered if selection criteria are met, with ICD-10 codes L65.0 through L65.9, L67.0, L67.8 through L67.9, L73.1, and L73.8 through L73.9.
04The ICD-10 codes listed as not covered for the indications in the bulletin include D53.0, E58 through E61.9, E70.0 through E88.9, F84.0, J30.0 through J30.9, J45.20 through J45.998, L20.0 through L20.9, L27.2, L50.0 through L50.9, R82.5 through R82.6, R89.2 through R89.3, Z13.21 through Z13.29, Z13.39, and Z91.010 through Z91.09.
Codes mentioned
821758301596902P2031T37.8X1AT37.96XST57.0X1AT57.0X4SZ13.88L65.0L65.9L67.0L67.8L67.9L73.1L73.8L73.9T36.0X1AT37.5X6ST38.0X1AT50.996ST63.001AT63.94XST78.00XAT78.2XXST78.3XXAT78.3XXST78.40XAT78.40XST88.6XXAT88.6XXSD53.0E58E59E60E61.0E61.9E70.0E88.9F84.0J30.0J30.9J45.20J45.998L20.0L20.9L27.2L50.0L50.9R82.5R82.6R89.2R89.3Z13.21Z13.29Z13.39Z91.010Z91.09
Original notice
Hair Analysis (CPB 0300, reviewed 2026-04-17)
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Related policy hubs
Aetna policiesPathologyGeneral PracticeInternal MedicineDermatologyCode 82175Code 83015Code 96902Code P2031Code T37.8X1ACode T37.96XSCode T57.0X1ACode T57.0X4SCode Z13.88Code L65.0Code L65.9Code L67.0Code L67.8Code L67.9Code L73.1Code L73.8Code L73.9Code T36.0X1ACode T37.5X6SCode T38.0X1ACode T50.996SCode T63.001ACode T63.94XSCode T78.00XACode T78.2XXSCode T78.3XXACode T78.3XXSCode T78.40XACode T78.40XSCode T88.6XXACode T88.6XXSCode D53.0Code E58Code E59Code E60Code E61.0Code E61.9Code E70.0Code E88.9Code F84.0Code J30.0Code J30.9Code J45.20Code J45.998Code L20.0Code L20.9Code L27.2Code L50.0Code L50.9Code R82.5Code R82.6Code R89.2Code R89.3Code Z13.21Code Z13.29Code Z13.39Code Z91.010Code Z91.09