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Medicare AdvantageCoverageMedium impact

MA07.003f, Photodynamic Therapy Using Verteporfin (Visudyne®)

Independence Blue Cross·Ophthalmology·Pharmacy
Effective date
Feb 2, 2026
We identified it
Jun 19, 2026
Days to comply
—

Summary

Independence Blue Cross reissued MA07.003f on 02/02/2026 with no substantive changes to photodynamic therapy coverage criteria, but removed 15 ICD-10 diagnosis codes that are no longer covered under this policy. The policy aligns with CMS National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) for verteporfin PDT treatment of choroidal neovascularization associated with AMD, presumed ocular histoplasmosis, and pathologic myopia. Billing teams must remove the deleted ICD-10 codes from claim submission logic to prevent denials.

Action Required

Action needed
By 02/02/2026: Billing team must update billing software and claim validation rules to remove the following 15 ICD-10 diagnosis codes from the covered diagnoses list for CPT 67221 and 67225 verteporfin PDT claims: B39.3, B39.4, B39.5, B39.9, D18.09, H32, H35.059, H35.3290, H35.3291, H35.3292, H35.3293, H35.711, H35.712, H35.713, H35.719, and all H44.2x codes listed (H44.20, H44.21, H44.22, H44.23, H44.2A1-A9, H44.2B1-B9, H44.2C1-C9, H44.2D1-D9, H44.2E1-E3, H44.2E9). Update claim edits to deny or reject claims submitted with these diagnosis codes paired with CPT 67221/67225 for Independence Blue Cross Medicare Advantage members. Notify providers that only the covered diagnoses (exudative AMD with CNV, presumed ocular histoplasmosis, pathologic myopia) are eligible for PDT coverage. Failure to implement these changes will result in incorrectly approved claims that should be denied, leading to potential overpayment recovery.

Affected Billing Codes

67221
67225
J3396
H35.051
H35.052
H35.053
H35.3210
H35.3211
H35.3212
H35.3213
B39.3
B39.4
B39.5
B39.9
D18.09
H32
H35.059
H35.3290
H35.3291
H35.3292
H35.3293
H35.711
H35.712
H35.713
H35.719
H44.20
H44.21
H44.22
H44.23
H44.2A1
H44.2A2
H44.2A3
H44.2A9
H44.2B1
H44.2B2
H44.2B3
H44.2B9
H44.2C1
H44.2C2
H44.2C3
H44.2C9
H44.2D1
H44.2D2
H44.2D3
H44.2D9
H44.2E1
H44.2E2
H44.2E3
H44.2E9