Service Descriptions and Limitations: Orthodontic Services

(A) General Conditions. The MassHealth agency pays for orthodontic treatment, subject to prior authorization, service descriptions and limitations as described in 130 CMR 420.431. The provider must seek prior authorization for orthodontic treatment and begin initial placement and insertion of orthodontic appliances and partial banding or full banding and brackets prior to the member’s 21st birthday. (B) Definitions. (1) Pre-orthodontic Treatment Examination – includes the periodic observation of the member’s dentition at intervals established by the orthodontist to determine when orthodontic treatment should begin. (2) Interceptive/Limited Orthodontic Treatment – includes treatment of the primary and transitional dentition to prevent or minimize the development of a handicapping malocclusion and therefore, minimize or preclude the need for comprehensive orthodontic treatment. (3) Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment – includes a coordinated diagnosis and treatment leading to the improvement of a member’s craniofacial dysfunction and/or dentofacial deformity which may include anatomical and/or functional relationship. Treatment may utilize fixed and/or removable orthodontic appliances and may also include functional and/or orthopedic appliances. Comprehensive orthodontics may incorporate treatment phases including adjunctive procedures to facilitate care focusing on specific objectives at various stages of dentofacial development. (4) Orthodontic Treatment Visits – periodic visits which may include but are not limited to updating wiring, tightening ligatures or otherwise evaluating and updating care while undergoing comprehensive orthodontic treatment. (C) Service Limitations and Requirements. (1) Pre-orthodontic Treatment Examination. The MassHealth agency pays for a pre-orthodontic treatment examination for members younger than 21 years old, once per six (6) months per member, and only for the purpose of determining whether orthodontic treatment is medically necessary, and can be initiated before the member’s twenty-first birthday. The MassHealth agency pays for a pre-orthodontic treatment examination as a separate procedure (see 130 CMR 420.413). The MassHealth agency does not pay for a pre-orthodontic treatment examination as a separate procedure in conjunction with pre-authorized ongoing or planned orthodontic treatment. (2) Interceptive/Limited Orthodontics. (a) The MassHealth agency pays for interceptive/limited orthodontic treatment once per member per lifetime. The MassHealth agency determines whether the treatment will prevent or minimize a handicapping malocclusion based on the clinical standards described in Appendix F of the Dental Manual. (b) The MassHealth agency limits coverage of interceptive/limited orthodontic treatment with at least one of the following conditions: constricted palate, deep impinging overbite, Class III malocclusion including skeletal Class III cases as defined in Appendix F of the Dental Manual when a protraction facemask/reverse pull headgear is necessary at a young age, craniofacial anomalies, anterior cross bite, or dentition exhibiting results of harmful habits or traumatic interferences between erupting teeth. (c) When initiated during the early stages of a developing problem, interceptive orthodontics may reduce the severity of the malformation and mitigate its causes. Complicating factors such as skeletal disharmonies, overall space deficiency, or other conditions may require subsequent comprehensive orthodontic treatment. Prior authorization for comprehensive orthodontic treatment may be sought for Class III malocclusions as defined in Appendix F of the Dental Manual requiring facemask treatment at the same time that authorization for interceptive orthodontic treatment is sought. For members with craniofacial anomalies, prior authorization may separately be sought for the cost of appliances, including installation. (3) Comprehensive Orthodontics. (a) The MassHealth agency pays for comprehensive orthodontic treatment, subject to prior authorization, once per member per lifetime for a member younger than 21 years old and only when the member has a handicapping malocclusion. The MassHealth agency determines whether a malocclusion is handicapping based on clinical standards for medical necessity as described in Appendix D of the Dental Manual. Upon the completion of orthodontic treatment, the provider must take post-treatment photographic prints and maintain them in the member’s dental record. (b) The MassHealth agency pays for the office visit, radiographs and a record fee of the pre- orthodontic treatment examination (alternative billing to a contract fee) when the MassHealth agency denies a request for prior authorization for comprehensive orthodontic treatment or when the member terminates the planned treatment. The payment for a pre- orthodontic treatment consultation as a separate procedure does not include models or photographic prints. The MassHealth agency may request additional consultation for any orthodontic procedure. (c) Payment for comprehensive orthodontic treatment is inclusive of initial placement, and insertion of the orthodontic fixed and removable appliances (for example: rapid palatal expansion (RPE) or head gear), and records. Comprehensive orthodontic treatment may occur in phases, with the anticipation that full banding must occur during the treatment period. The payment for comprehensive orthodontic treatment covers a maximum period of three (3) calendar years. The MassHealth agency pays for orthodontic treatment as long as the member remains eligible for MassHealth, if initial placement and insertion of fixed or removable orthodontic appliances begins before the member reaches 21 years of age. (d) Comprehensive orthodontic care should commence when the first premolars and 1st permanent molars have erupted. It should only include the transitional dentition in cases with craniofacial anomalies such as cleft lip or cleft palate. Comprehensive treatment may commence with second deciduous molars present. (e) Subject to prior authorization, the MassHealth agency will pay for more than one comprehensive orthodontic treatment for members with cleft lip, cleft palate, cleft lip and palate, and other craniofacial anomalies to the extent treatment cannot be completed within three years. (4) Orthodontic Treatment Visits. The MassHealth agency pays for orthodontic treatment visits on a quarterly (90-days) basis for ongoing orthodontic maintenance and treatment beginning after the initial placement, and insertion of the orthodontic fixed and removable appliances. If a member becomes inactive for any period of time, prior authorization is not required to resume orthodontic treatment visits and subsequent billing, unless the prior authorization time limit has expired. The provider must document the number and dates of orthodontic treatment visits in the member’s orthodontic record. (5) Orthodontic Case Completion. The MassHealth agency pays for orthodontic case completion for comprehensive orthodontic treatment which includes the removal of appliances, construction and placement of retainers and follow-up visits. The MassHealth agency pays for a maximum of five (5) visits for members whose orthodontic treatment begins before their 21st birthday, consistent with 130 CMR 420.431(A). The MassHealth agency pays for the replacement of lost or broken retainers with prior authorization. (6) Orthodontic Transfer Cases. The MassHealth agency pays for members who transfer from one orthodontic provider to another for orthodontic services subject to prior authorization to determine the number of treatment visits remaining. Payment for transfer cases is limited to the number of treatment visits approved. Providers must submit requests using the form specified by MassHealth. (7) Orthodontic Terminations. The MassHealth agency requires providers to make all efforts to complete the active phase of treatment before requesting payment for removal of brackets and bands of a noncompliant member. If the provider determines that continued orthodontic treatment is not indicated because of lack of member’s cooperation and has obtained the member’s consent, the provider must submit a written treatment narrative on office letterhead with supporting documentation, including the case prior authorization number. (8) Radiographs. Payment for Cephalometric and radiographs used in conjunction with orthodontic diagnosis is included in the payment for comprehensive orthodontic treatment (see 130 CMR 420.423(D)). The MassHealth agency pays for radiographs as a separate procedure for orthodontic diagnostic purposes only for members younger than 21 years old if requested by the MassHealth agency. (9) Oral/Facial Photographic Images. The MassHealth agency pays for digital or photographic prints, not slides, only to support prior-authorization requests for comprehensive orthodontic treatment. Payment for digital or photographic prints is included in the payment for comprehensive orthodontic treatment or orthognathic treatment. The MassHealth agency does not pay for digital or photographic prints as a separate procedure (see 130 CMR 420.413). Payment for orthodontic treatment includes payment for services provided as part of the pre- orthodontic treatment examination, unless the MassHealth agency denies the prior authorization request for interceptive or comprehensive orthodontic treatment. The MassHealth agency pays for the pre-orthodontic treatment examination if prior authorization is denied for interceptive or comprehensive orthodontic treatment. (130 CMR 420.432 through 420.451 Reserved)