The Record - for physicians and other health care providers to share with their office staffs
Forward to a friend  |  Subscribe  |  The Record Archive  |  Contacts  |  bcbsm.com  |  Print this article
January 2013

Inhaled nitric oxide payable for some newborns

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has determined that inhaled nitric oxide is a useful therapeutic option for the treatment of neonates with hypoxic respiratory failure who are born at a minimum of 34 weeks gestation (34 to 40 weeks) and whose treatment starts at 14 days or earlier.

Continue to use the following procedure code to bill the service: *94799.

Other indications for inhaled nitric oxide are experimental. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • Patients with sickle cell disease
  • Premature neonates
  • Patients following elective left ventricular assist device insertion surgery

Inhaled nitric oxide has not been scientifically demonstrated to be as safe and effective as conventional treatment for those conditions.

For more information, please contact your provider consultant or Provider Inquiry.

No portion of this publication may be copied without the express written permission of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, except that BCBSM participating health care providers may make copies for their personal use. In no event may any portion of this publication be copied or reprinted and used for commercial purposes by any party other than BCBSM.

*CPT codes, descriptions and two-digit numeric modifiers only are copyright 2012 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and
independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.