Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Policy ID: I-91-022

Section: Injections

Effective Date: July 01, 2018

Revised Date: December 18, 2023

Revision Effective Date: March 03, 2025

Last Reviewed: January 14, 2025

Applies To: Commercial and Medicaid Expansion

Description

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is administered directly into the abdominal cavity. The first dose of chemolytic agents may be infused post-surgery with subsequent doses given over a course of several days.

Hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), also referred to as intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC), is instilled during surgery, via an open or closed abdominal approach. The heated chemolytic agent is infused into the peritoneal cavity, raising the temperature of the tissues within the cavity to 106-108 °Fahrenheit (F). Because various tissue thicknesses are present within the peritoneal cavity, there is a concern that the entire cavity may not be receiving an even exposure to the medication. Extensive surgical debulking is imperative.

Policy Application

All claims submitted under this policy's section will be processed according to the policy effective date and associated revision effective dates in effect on the date of processing, regardless of service date; and/or

All claims submitted under this policy's section will be processed according to the policy effective date and associated revision effective dates in effect on the date of service.

Criteria

Coverage is subject to the specific terms of the member's benefit plan.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy or Hyperthermic Intraoperative Intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) may be considered medically necessary when used in combination with cytoreductive surgery for ANY ONE of the following indications:

Stage III epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer at the time of interval debulking surgery; or
Optimally debulked (residual tumor less than or equal to 1.0cm in diameter) pseudomyxoma peritonei or mesothelioma of the peritoneum; or
Optimally debulked peritoneal surface malignancies from tumors of gastrointestinal or colorectal origin (excluding pancreas) without distant metastases.

Intrapertinoneal chemotherapy or HIPEC not meeting the criteria as indicated in this policy is considered experimental/investigational and therefore non-covered because the safety and/or effectiveness of this service cannot be established by the available published peer -reviewed literature. r

Procedure Codes

77605

77620

96446

96547

96548

96549

Diagnosis Codes

Covered Diagnosis Codes for Procedure Codes 96446, 96547, 96548, 77605 and 77620.

C16.0

C16.1

C16.2

C16.3

C16.4

C16.5

C16.6

C16.8

C16.9

C17.0

C17.1

C17.2

C17.3

C17.8

C17.9

C18.0

C18.1

C18.2

C18.3

C18.4

C18.5

C18.6

C18.7

C18.8

C18.9

C19

C20

C21.0

C21.1

C21.2

C21.8

C22.0

C22.1

C22.2

C22.3

C22.4

C22.7

C22.8

C22.9

C23

C24.0

C24.1

C24.8

C24.9

C26.0

C26.1

C26.9

C45.1

C48.0

C48.1

C48.2

C48.8

C56.1

C56.2

C56.3

C56.9

C57.00

C57.01

C57.02

C57.10

C57.11

C57.12

C57.20

C57.22

C57.3

C57.4

C57.7

C57.8

C57.9

C78.6

C79.60

C79.61

C79.62

C79.63

Professional Statements and Societal Positions Guidelines

Not Applicable

ND Committee Review

Internal Medical Policy Committee 11-14-2019 No HMK update since 2016

Internal Medical Policy Committee 11-19-2020 Annual Review

Internal Medical Policy Committee 11-23-2021 Annual Review-no changes in criteria

Internal Medical Policy Committee 11-29-2022 Revision with coding update- Effective January 02, 2023

Added diagnosis codes C57.00; C57.01; C57.02; C57.10; C57.11; C7.12; C57.20; C57.22; C57.3; C57.4; C57.7; C57.8; C57.9; C79.60; C79.61; and C79.62.

Internal Medical Policy Committee 3-23-2023 Annual Review-no changes in criteria

Internal Medical Policy Committee 1-16-2024 Coding update - Effective January 01, 2024

Added procedure codes 96547 and 96548.

Internal Medical Policy Committee 1-14-2025 Annual Review - no changes in criteria

Added Policy Application

Links

References (PDF)

Disclaimer

Current medical policy is to be used in determining a Member's contract benefits on the date that services are rendered. Contract language, including definitions and specific inclusions/exclusions, as well as state and federal law, must be considered in determining eligibility for coverage. Members must consult their applicable benefit plans or contact a Member Services representative for specific coverage information. Likewise, medical policy, which addresses the issue(s) in any specific case, should be considered before utilizing medical opinion in adjudication. Medical technology is constantly evolving, and the Company reserves the right to review and update medical policy periodically.

Policy ID: I-91-021