WAC 182-552-0600. Respiratory care—Covered—Airway clearance devices

Chest physiotherapy (CPT), which is also known as percussion and postural drainage (P/PD), is traditionally seen as the standard of care of secretion clearance methods. There are client instances when conventional manual CPT is unavailable, ineffective, or not tolerated. The medicaid agency then covers the following types of airway clearance devices when medically necessary for an individual with a diagnosis that is characterized by excessive mucus production and difficulty clearing secretions: (1) Mechanical percussors. One per client, per lifetime; (2) Oscillatory positive expiratory pressure devices. One per client every one hundred and eighty days; (3) Positive expiratory pressure devices. Requires prior authorization (PA); (4) Cough stimulating device, alternating positive and negative airway pressure. Requires PA; and (5) High frequency chest wall oscillation air-pulse generator system. Requires PA.