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Diabetes Screening

Diabetes is a medical condition in which your body doesn’t make enough insulin, or has a reduced response to insulin. Diabetes causes your blood sugar to be too high because insulin is needed to use sugar properly. A high blood sugar level isn’t good for your health. Medicare covers a blood screening test to check for diabetes for people at risk.

Medicare only pays claims for Durable Medicare Equipment (DME) if the ordering provider and DME supplier are actively enrolled in Medicare on the date of service. Tell the Medicare beneficiary if you are not participating in Medicare before you order DME. Refer to “Medicare Enrollment Guidelines for Ordering/Referring Providers” for information on how to enroll as an ordering/referring provider.

HCPCS/CPT Codes


82947 – Glucose; quantitative, blood (except reagent strip)

82950 – Glucose; post glucose dose (includes glucose)

82951 – Glucose; tolerance test (GTT), 3 specimens (includes glucose)

ICD-10-CM (ICD-9-CM) Codes


Z13.1 (V77.1)

Who Is Covered


Medicare beneficiaries with certain risk factors for diabetes or diagnosed with pre-diabetes

NOTE: Beneficiaries previously diagnosed with diabetes are not eligible for this benefit

Frequency


  • Two screening tests per year for beneficiaries diagnosed with pre-diabetes; or
  • One screening per year if previously tested but not diagnosed with pre-diabetes or if never tested

Beneficiary Pays


  • Copayment/coinsurance waived
  • Deductible waived

Append modifier -TS when submitting claims for Medicare beneficiaries with pre-diabetes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


Am I at risk for diabetes?

You’re considered at risk if you have high blood pressure, dyslipidemia (history of abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels), obesity, or a history of high blood sugar (glucose). Medicare also covers these tests if 2 or more of these apply to you:

  • Are you 65 or older?
  • Are you overweight?
  • Do you have a family history of diabetes (parents, brothers, or sisters)?
  • Do you have a history of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy), or have you had a baby weighing more than 9 pounds?

Other Notes


  • Append modifier –TS (Follow-up service) when submitting claims for Medicare beneficiaries with pre-diabetes.
  • Medicare only pays claims for Durable Medicare Equipment (DME) if the ordering provider and DME supplier are actively enrolled in Medicare on the date of service or, in the case of the provider, have a valid opt-out affidavit on file. Tell your Medicare patients if you are not participating in Medicare before you order DME. Refer to Medicare Enrollment for Providers Who Solely Order or Certify for information on how to enroll as an ordering, certifying, or prescribing provider.

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