[ PHIC PHILHEALTH CIRCULAR NO. 06, S. 2004, February 12, 2004 ]

INCLUSION OF BLEPHAROPLASTY AND PTOSIS SURGERY IN RELATIVE VALUE SCALE 2001



Pursuant to PhilHealth Board Resolution No. 627, s. of 2003, blepharoplasty and ptosis surgery shall be included in RVS 2001 list of compensable procedures provided that they are performed to correct functional or visual impairment due to dermatochalasis, blepharochalasis, blepharoptosis, and pseudoptosis and NOT for cosmetic reasons.

Claims for blepharoplasty/ptosis surgery performed for other causes of functional or visual impairment may also be reimbursed after due evaluation by the Peer Review Committee.

The following are the codes, descriptive terminologies and RVU assigned for these procedures:


CODE
DESCRIPTIVE TERMS
RVU
      15820 Blepharoplasty, lower eyelid
45
15822 Blepharoplasty, upper eyelid;
45
15823 With excessive skin weighting down lid
60
67900 Repair of brow ptosis (supraciliary, midforehead or coronal approach)
95
67901 Repair of blepharoptosis; frontalis muscle technique with suture or other material
100
67902 Frontalis muscle technique with fascial sling (includes obtaining fascia)
120
67903 (tarso) levator resection or advancement, internal approach
100
67904 (tarso) levator resection or advancement, external approach
100
67906 Superior rectus technique with fascial sling (includes obtaining fascia)
100
67908 Conjunctivo-tarso-Muller's muscle-levator resection (Fasanella-Servat type
75


In order to establish the compensability of blepharoplasty and ptosis surgeries, all claims for these procedures must be submitted together with a fully accomplished PhilHealth Claim Form 3 or a copy of Clinical Abstract.  The surgeon should document the indication for the surgery through history and physical examination findings.  Operating room records should also support the presence of the indications.  Claims with incomplete requirements shall not be processed and shall be returned to hospital for completion.

All other Circulars consistent herewith remain in full force and effect.

This circular will take effect 15 days following publication hereof.

Please be guided accordingly.

Adopted: 12 Feb. 2004


(SGD.) FRANCISCO T. DUQUE, MD, MSc
President and CEO