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Last Modified: 5/7/2024 Location: FL, PR, USVI Business: Part B

Physicians: Are you ordering external breast prostheses and supplies for your patient?

Following this guidance will help your patients and the Medicare program by verifying there is medical documentation to support the provision of external breast prostheses and supplies.  
Medicare coverage requires the patient’s medical record to show a past mastectomy and a valid and complete order. Coverage includes supplies both at the time of the mastectomy and after.
The durable medical equipment prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) supplier cannot submit a claim for reimbursement until a standard written order (SWO) is provided. The SWO must contain the elements below. Help your patient by providing this timely.
Beneficiary's name or Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI)
Order date
Description of the item(s) ordered
Quantity to be dispensed, if applicable
Treating practitioner name or NPI
Treating practitioner's signature
There must also be information in the patient’s medical record that justifies continued medical need, and it must be made available to the supplier or review contractor upon request. 
The following may serve as documentation justifying continued medical need for the external breast prostheses and supplies:
A recent order by the treating physician for refills  
Does not have to be the surgeon
Current treatment not necessarily related to the mastectomy, however addressing on-going care
A recent change in prescription
Timely documentation in beneficiary’s medical record showing usage of item(s)
Defined as a record entered in preceding 12 months  
Must indicate mastectomy or absence of breast
In absence of evidence of reconstruction, original mastectomy surgery documentation is sufficient to verify mastectomy 
For coverage and limitations of these supplies, review LCD L33317 external link and Policy Articles A52478 external link and A55426 external link.
First Coast Service Options (First Coast) strives to ensure that the information available on our provider website is accurate, detailed, and current. Therefore, this is a dynamic site and its content changes daily. It is best to access the site to ensure you have the most current information rather than printing articles or forms that may become obsolete without notice.