Overview

Reconstructive surgery is covered by all plans. Reconstructive surgery is defined as surgery performed to correct or repair abnormal structures of the body caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease, to do either of the following:

• Improve function
• Create a normal appearance to the extent possible

Cosmetic surgery is defined as surgery that is performed to alter or reshape normal structures of the body to improve appearance. Health Net does not cover cosmetic surgery. For Medicare Advantage (MA) members, Medicare generally does not cover cosmetic surgery unless it is needed due to accidental injury or to improve the function of a malformed part of the body. Medicare covers breast reconstruction if the member has had a mastectomy due to breast cancer.

Prior authorization for reconstructive surgery procedures, services and evaluations may be required. Providers should refer to the applicable prior authorization requirements under the Prior Authorization section for more information. Upon review, requests may be denied in any of the following situations:

• Denial of the proposed surgery if there is another more appropriate surgical procedure that is approved for the member
• Denial of the proposed surgery or surgeries if the procedure or procedures, in accordance with the standard of care as practiced by physicians specializing in reconstructive surgery, offer only minimal improvement in the member's appearance
  • The determination of whether a surgery will produce only minimal improvement should be based upon the standard of care, as practiced by physicians specializing in reconstructive surgery or other licensed physicians competent to evaluate the specific clinical issues involved in the care rendered
• Denial of payment for procedures performed without prior authorization
• For services provided by the Medi-Cal program (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000), Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code), denial of the proposed surgery if the procedure offers only a minimal improvement in the appearance of the member, as may be defined in any regulations that may be promulgated by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)

Participating physician groups (PPGs) or attending physicians can refer to the Reconstructive Surgery Decision Tree (PDF) for guidance in making decisions about reconstructive surgery cases.