Traditional MedicareCoverageHigh impact
Updated Interqual content release for Medicare local coverage determination (LCD) for epidural steroid injections
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island·Pain Management, Anesthesiology, Orthopedics +2 more·Physician
Effective date
Dec 1, 2021
We identified it
Jun 19, 2026
Summary
Medicare updated its Local Coverage Determination for epidural steroid injections, expanding coverage from lumbar-only to include cervical, thoracic, and lumbar injections. The policy now covers 10 specific CPT codes for pain management epidural injections but excludes their use for maternity delivery or surgical anesthesia.
Action Required
Immediately: Billing team must update Medicare LCD reference from L35937 (Lumbar Epidural Injections) to L39036 (Epidural Steroid Injections for Pain Management). Update billing system to ensure CPT codes 62320-62327, 64479, and 64483 are only billed for pain management, not maternity delivery or surgical anesthesia. Review and update encounter forms to reflect expanded coverage for cervical and thoracic epidural injections.