Diagnostic tools and/or devices (044)

Number: 044
Update

Subject: Diagnostic tools and/or devices

Reviewed: July 17, 2024

Important note

This Clinical Policy Bulletin determines whether certain services or supplies are medically necessary, experimental, investigational, or cosmetic. Aetna® has reached these conclusions based upon a review of currently available clinical information (including clinical outcome studies in the peer-reviewed published medical literature, regulatory status of the technology, evidence -based guidelines of public health and health research agencies, evidence-based guidelines and positions of leading national health professional organizations, views of physicians practicing in relevant clinical areas, and other relevant factors). 

Aetna makes no representations and accepts no liability with respect to the content of any external information cited or relied upon in the Bulletin.  The discussion, analysis, conclusions, and positions reflected in this Bulletin, including any reference to a specific provider, product, process or service by name, trademark, manufacturer, constitute an opinion by Aetna and are made without any intent to defame. 

Aetna expressly reserves the right to revise these conclusions as clinical information changes, and welcomes further relevant information including correction of any factual error. CPBs include references to standard HIPAA compliant code sets to assist with search functions and to facilitate billing and payment for covered services. New and revised codes are added to the CPBs as they are updated. When billing, you must use the most appropriate code as of the effective date of the submission. Unlisted, unspecified and nonspecific codes should be avoided.

Each benefit plan defines which services are covered, which are excluded, and which are subject to dollar caps or other limits. Members and their providers will need to consult the member's benefit plan to determine if there are any exclusions or other benefit limitations applicable to this service or supply.

The conclusion that a particular service or supply is medically necessary does not constitute a representation or warranty that this service or supply is covered (for example, will be paid for by Aetna) for a particular member. The member's benefit plan determines coverage. Some plans exclude coverage for services or supplies that Aetna considers medically necessary. If there is a discrepancy between this policy and a member's plan of benefits, the benefits plan will govern. In addition, coverage may be mandated by applicable legal requirements of a State, the Federal government or CMS for Medicare and Medicaid members.

Visit the CMS coverage database  

Policy

Aetna considers the use of any tools and/or devices that assist in a diagnosis to be an adjunctive technique that is part of the oral evaluation or primary service.

Background

Aetna does not offer a separate benefit for the use of tools, devices or techniques to evaluate oral structures. One example is pulp vitality tests.

Aetna, in determining the appropriate benefit for oral evaluations such as a “limited oral evaluation - problem focused,”, has established that in cases of suspected endodontic involvement, pulp vitality tests are considered inclusive in the limited oral evaluation. Aetna does not extend, nor permit a separate benefit for pulp vitality tests. As D0460 is considered an inclusive procedure, collection of a fee for this procedure from the patient is not permitted.

Codes

D0140 – Limited Oral Evaluation - problem focused
D0460 – Pulp vitality tests

Effective dates

Original policy: November 27, 2017

Update: March 4, 2020; April 19, 2021; May 4, 2022; July 12, 2023; July 17, 2024

The above policy is based on the following references:

American Dental Association. CDT 2024  Dental Procedure Codes

 Copyright 2024 American Dental Association. All rights reserved. 

Property of Aetna. All rights reserved. Dental Clinical Policy Bulletins are developed by Aetna to assist in administering plan benefits and constitute neither offers of coverage nor medical/dental advice. This Dental Clinical Policy Bulletin contains only a partial, general description of plan or program benefits and does not constitute a contract. Aetna does not provide health care services and, therefore, cannot guarantee any results or outcomes. Participating health care professionals are independent contractors in private practice and are neither employees nor agents of Aetna or its affiliates. Treating health care professionals are solely responsible for medical/dental advice and treatment of members. This Clinical Policy Bulletin may be updated and therefore is subject to change.