Screening Pap Smears
Effective, January 1, 1998, §4102 of the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 (P.L. 105-33) amended §1861(nn) of the Act (42 USC 1395X(nn)) to include coverage every three years for a screening Pap smear or more frequent coverage for women:
1. At high risk for cervical or vaginal cancer; or
2. Of childbearing age who have had a Pap smear during any of the preceding three years indicating the presence of cervical or vaginal cancer or other abnormality.
Effective July 1, 2001, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001 (P.L. 106-554) modifies §1861(nn) to provide Medicare coverage for biennial screening Pap smears. Specifications for frequency limitations are defined below.
For claims with dates of service from January 1, 1998, through June 30, 2001, screening Pap smears are covered when ordered and collected by a doctor of medicine or osteopathy (as defined in §1861(r)(1) of the Act), or other authorized practitioner (e.g., a certified nurse midwife, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist, who is authorized under State law to perform the examination) under one of the following conditions.
The beneficiary has not had a screening Pap smear test during the preceding three years (i.e., 35 months have passed following the month that the woman had the last covered Pap smear ICD-9-CM code V76.2 is used to indicate special screening for malignant neoplasm, cervix); or
There is evidence (on the basis of her medical history or other findings) that she is of childbearing age and has had an examination that indicated the presence of cervical or vaginal cancer or other abnormalities during any of the preceding three years; and at least 11 months have passed following the month that the last covered Pap smear was performed; or
She is at high risk of developing cervical or vaginal cancer ICD-9-CM code V15.89, other specified personal history presenting hazards to health) and at least 11 months have passed following the month that the last covered screening Pap smear was performed. The high risk factors for cervical and vaginal cancer are:
Cervical Cancer High Risk Factors
Early onset of sexual activity (under 16 years of age);
Multiple sexual partners (five or more in a lifetime);
History of a sexually transmitted disease (including HIV infection); and
Fewer than three negative or any Pap smears within the previous seven years.
Vaginal Cancer High Risk Factors
The DES (diethylstilbestrol) – exposed daughters of women who took DES during pregnancy
The term “woman of childbearing age” means a woman who is premenopausal, and has been determined by a physician, or qualified practitioner, to be of childbearing age, based on her medical history or other findings. Payment is not made for a screening Pap smear for women at high risk or who qualify for coverage under the childbearing provision more frequently than once every 11 months after the month that the last screening Pap smear covered by Medicare was performed.
For Claims with Dates of Service on or After July 1, 2001
When the beneficiary does not qualify for a more frequently performed screening Pap smear as noted in items 1 and 2 above, contractors pay for the screening Pap smear only after at least 23 months have passed following the month during which the beneficiary received her last covered screening Pap smear. All other coverage and payment requirements remain the same.
