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Medical Guidelines and Policies

Independent Health has developed clinical guidelines to establish evidence-based clinical criteria for utilization management decisions. We may delegate utilization management decisions of certain services to third-party organizations which may adopt their own clinical criteria.

Clinical guidelines apply to certain policies. Clinical guidelines apply to members enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans only if there is no criteria for the specific service in a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) national coverage determination (NCD) or local coverage determination (LCD) on the date of a prior authorization request. View the NCDs and LCDs on CMS’ Medicare Coverage Database.

Coverage of services is subject to the terms, conditions, limitations of a member’s policy and applicable state and federal law.

If you have questions or need policy information

To confirm coverage or eligibility, please refer to your coverage policy documents (e.g., Certificate/Evidence of Coverage, Schedule of Benefits) or contact Independent Health.

Looking for drug related information? View our Pharmacy Policies.

Adopted Guidelines

Artificial Intervertebral Disc 

Continuous Passive Motion Appliances 

Cystoscopy 

Home Health 

Inpatient & Surgical Care 

Inpatient Psychiatric Mental Health

Lung Transplantation 

Partial Hospitalizations for Mental Health Services 

Prophylactic Mastectomy 

Radiology Services (CT, MRA, MRI, non-cardiac PET) 

Recovery Facility Care 

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Service Benefit Management 

Temporomandibular Joint Surgery