Summary
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Jersey updated its Bariatric Surgery medical policy in its November 2026 bulletin, effective 2027-01-01. The update removes CPT code 43882 from the applicable codes list and removes the Medical Records Documentation Used for Reviews section, with documentation guidance now referenced on UHCprovider.com under Community Plans > Resources and FAQs.
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What to do
Action · 4 steps
01By 2027-01-01: Billing team should stop selecting CPT 43882 for New Jersey Community Plan members in charge entry and remove it from any bariatric surgery code templates or superbills so claims are not built with it.
02Before scheduling bariatric procedures for these members, confirm with the provider and the prior authorization tracker which codes remain applicable under the updated policy.
03Locate the Medical Records Documentation Used for Reviews guidance at UHCprovider.com/policies > For Community Plans > Resources and FAQs and share it with clinical documentation staff so records supporting bariatric procedures match current payer expectations.
04Tell providers and front desk staff about the code removal before the effective date.
Codes mentioned
43882
Original notice
Bariatric Surgery (for New Jersey Only)
uhcprovider.com · Always check the source before changing claims.
Related changes
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