Beginning Oct. 1, Medicare carriers will accept V76.47 (Special screening for malignant neoplasms; vagina) and V76.49 (Special screening for malignant neoplasms; other sites) as low-risk diagnoses to support medical necessity for Q0091 (Screening Papanicolaou smear; obtaining, preparing and conveyance of cervical or vaginal smear to laboratory) and G0101 (Cervical or vaginal cancer screening; pelvic and clinical breast examination), according to CMS Program Memorandum AB-03-054 issued May 2. The agency added V76.49 for providers to use for women without a cervix, the memorandum states.
To review the program memorandum, go to the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.gov/manuals/pm_trans/ AB03054.pdf.