Decision Memo for Urine Culture Bacterial

CMS posted a decision memo regarding the Re-evaluation of Inclusion of Renal Failure in the List of ICD-9-CM Codes Covered. It states the intent (and, therefore, does not constitute a national coverage determination (NCD)) to remove the following ICD-9 CM codes from the list of Medicare covered codes. The subject ICD-9-CM codes are as follows:

Code 585 will be retained, noting that the code only supports bacterial urine culture when the patient is about to undergo renal transplantation.

The transmittal that announces the Coverage Issues Manual revision or program Memorandum will establish the effective date of this policy change.