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Last Modified: 5/3/2024 Location: FL, PR, USVI Business: Part A, Part B

Botulinum toxin injections

Botulinum toxins are potent neuromuscular blocking agents that are useful in treating various focal muscle spastic disorders and excessive muscle contractions, such as dystonia, spasms, and twitches. They produce a presynaptic neuromuscular blockade by preventing the release of acetylcholine from the nerve endings. Since the resulting chemical denervation of muscle produces local paresis or paralysis, selected muscles can be treated. Botulinum toxins are used in the treatment of overactive skeletal muscles, smooth muscles, and glands.

Coverage

Effective for dates of service July 1, 2020, and after, hospital outpatient department (HOPD) providers will need to obtain prior authorization (PA) for botulinum toxin injections if performed in a HOPD setting and billed with one of the following CPT codes:

Code
Description
J0585
Injection, onabotulinumtoxina, 1 unit
J0586
Injection, abobotulinumtoxina, 5 units
J0587
Injection, rimabotulinumtoxinb, 100 units
J0588
Injection, incobotulinumtoxin a, 1 unit
PA for botulinum toxin for the above CPT codes is required when used in conjunction with one of the following CPT codes:

Code
Description
64612
Chemodenervation of muscle(s); muscle(s) innervated by facial nerve, unilateral (e.g., for blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm)
64615
Chemodenervation of muscle(s); muscle(s) innervated by facial, trigeminal, cervical spinal and accessory nerves, bilateral (e.g., for chronic migraine)

Documentation requirements

Documentation recommended for the support of botulinum toxin injections includes:
A covered diagnosis
Dosage and frequency of planned injections
Specific site(s) injected (refer to your MAC’s LCD/LCA)
Documentation to support the medical necessity when electromyography procedures performed in conjunction with botulinum toxin type A injections to determine the proper injection site(s) (when applicable)
To support continuous treatment, the documentation should include the clinical effectiveness of two consecutive treatments that preceded the anticipated procedure (refer to your MAC’s LCD/LCA)
Documentation of the management of a chronic migraine diagnosis. A medical record must include a history of migraine and experiencing frequent headaches on most days of the month
Documentation of traditional treatments such as medication, physical therapy, and other appropriate methods have been tried and proven unsuccessful (when applicable)

Best practice/documentation feedback/tips and help

Botulinum toxins are available under different trade names. Each trade name corresponds to a specific CPT code that requires PA. The chart below identifies which trade name corresponds to the CPT codes.

Trade Name
Code
BOTOX
J0585
Allergan
J0585
Dysport
J0585
Myobloc
J0586
Xeomin
J0588
If botulinum toxin is being used to treat chronic migraines, documentation should support that headache occurred greater than 15 days in one month and that 8 of the headaches were migraines. Evidence of conservative treatment tried and proven unsuccessful should be documented.
Continuous treatment of botulinum toxin will be considered medically reasonable and necessary when the following are supported in the documentation:
Injections have been administered approximately 12 weeks apart.
Injection sites that correlate to the administration CPT code and treatment diagnosis. If the internal protocol is not well known, please include an injection site map to support the requested code(s)
Evidence of effectiveness for the last two injections.
It is not expected that the most recent injection provided will show effectiveness since the patient has not returned for their next appointment.

References

Social Security Act (SSA) Title XVIII, Section 1862(a)(10). This section excludes cosmetic surgery
The A/B Medicare Administrative Contractor Prior Authorization Collaboration Workgroup developed this document. This joint effort ensures consistent communication and education throughout the nation on a variety of topics and assists the provider and physician community with information necessary to submit claims appropriately and receive proper payment in a timely manner.
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