Pet Scan for Digestive System/ GI: 16.7% of denials overturned
In 6 California IMR decisions from 2002 to 2023, reviewers overturned 1 (16.7%). In the last five years: 0.0% of 1. 3 were medical-necessity disputes, 3 experimental/investigational.
By year (last five)
| Year | Decisions | Overturned |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 0.0% |
What the findings mention
From recent overturned decisions
“Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: An enrollee has requested reimbursement for the positron emission tomography (PET) scan for evaluation of the enrollee’s Crohn’s disease. Findings: The physician reviewer found that Elevated C-reactive protein correlates well with disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. In this case, the patient had ongoing elevation of C-reactive protein, and disease activity seen in …”
And one the reviewer upheld
“Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: The enrollee has requested authorization and coverage for PET with CT attenuation, skull base to mid-thigh.According to studies, pancreatic cancer screening is not recommended in asymptomatic patients who are not considered to be at high risk for developing pancreatic cancer. High risk patients are defined as having a genetic predisposition or syndrome or having at …”
- California only: these are decisions by independent reviewers under California's IMR program (plans regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care). Other states and self-funded employer plans use different reviewers and rules.
- Selection: only denials that a member took all the way to IMR appear. Most denials are never appealed, and the ones that reach an external reviewer are not a random sample.
- Overturned means the reviewer disagreed with the plan; it does not mean the treatment worked or that a similar request will be approved.
- Argument tags are keyword matches on the reviewer's findings. They describe what the findings mention, not why the case was decided.
- Categories are DMHC's own labels (treatment sub-category and diagnosis category); 'Other' is a catch-all and is excluded from rankings.
Source: California Department of Managed Health Care, Independent Medical Review (IMR) Determinations, Trend (CHHS Open Data). Public California government data; Apellica's aggregates and tags are CC BY 4.0.
Questions
How often were Pet Scan denials for Digestive System/ GI overturned?
In 6 California IMR decisions from 2002 to 2023, reviewers overturned 1 (16.7%). In the last five years: 0.0% of 1. 3 were medical-necessity disputes, 3 experimental/investigational.
What should an appeal document, based on these findings?
Whatever the plan's criteria ask for, shown in the record: the treatments already tried and their results, contraindications to the plan's preferred option, the guideline or evidence that supports the request, and the treating clinician's reasoning written to the criteria. The tag table shows which of these the reviewers mentioned most in overturned cases.
Does a California IMR result apply to my plan?
Only California plans regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care go to IMR. Other states and self-funded employer plans use different reviewers, but they weigh the same things.
Independent reviewers reverse plans when the record answers the criteria. Upload the denial letter; a senior reviewer reads it within 24 hours and tells you in writing whether it can be appealed and how. $0 upfront, 10% of what is recovered, nothing if we do not recover. Not a law firm.