How to Search Find-A-Code for Medicare Policies and Guidelines — LCDs, NCDs and Articles —

by  Raquel Shumway
Nov 18th, 2020

Find-A-Code includes Medicare Policies & Guidelines (LCDs, NCDs and Articles) that have been prepared by the individual MAC Jurisdictions. They can be extremely useful, in determining what each MAC is looking for when filing your claims so that you avoid claim denials.

LCD, NCD, and Article Information includes the following:

• Procedure, HCPCS, and Diagnoses codes
• Documentation guidelines
• General guidelines
• Dates of coverage
• MAC (contractor) information
• Revision History for the guideline
• Associated Documents
• Other Versions of the Article

Find-A-Code creates crosswalks from the CPT/HCPCS to the ICD-10-CM codes. Those can be located at the code level. Click Here to learn more about Cross-A-Code (the Crosswalks) found in Find-A-Code.

LCDs/NCDs/Articles contain the following information. Just simply click on the + to expand the bar for further information related to the LCD/NCD/Article.

There are several ways to access these guidelines:

1. You can access them from the code you are considering using

   1. Go to the desired code.
      
      
   2. Go to the [Medicare Policies & Guidelines (NCDs, LCDs, Articles)] bar and expand it by clicking on the + sign
      
      
      
      
   3. Choose one of the 3 options (see image below): My carrier only, My state carriers, or All carriers. All carriers includes the entire United States, so some of the results might not apply to you.
      
      
      
      
   4. Choose LCDs, NCDs, or Articles and click on the + to expand them. They are listed in groups; Active, Retired, Draft, and Superceded. The list includes the number, title and MAC that uses them. (See image below)
      
      
   5. Click on the name of the article you are interested in and Find-A-Code will take you to that LCD, NCD, or Article where you can research the information that is provided. (See image below)
      
       

      
      
      

2. You can access LCDs, NCDs, and Articles from the home page by doing a search (See image below)
   
   NOTE: Make sure you are logged into your account.
   
   

   1. Go to tools (light blue)
      
      
   2. Choose search from the drop down box (pink)
      
      
   3. Choose LCDs – Medicare policies (green)
      
      
      
      

   These steps will take you to a new window where you can enter your LCD/NCD/Article number and/or other search criteria. I have highlighted a couple of things you might want to look at. 

   Follow the instructions in yellow box in image 1 below. You can also choose to Show Retired Contractors by clicking on the words.

   I have used the example of Hyperbaric oxygen, but you can also use an LCD/NCD/Article number. Because this is specifically a search window for LCDs, NCDs and Articles, you do not need to add the L, N or A with the number. It will only return LCDs, NCDs and Articles in the search results.

   When you make your selections and click search, Find-A-Code will take you to the screen that looks like image 2. However,
   
   NOTE: 
   If you enter a code#, the search will take you to the code you entered in the search rather than the the window in image 2

   Image 1 (Enter Search Criteria):                        Image 2 Search Results:

            
   
   

3. You can access LCDs, NCDs, and Articles from the home page by doing a search from the search box at the top of the page. (See image below)

   

NOTE: After entering your search criteria, click ENTER, rather than the search icon.

This will take you to the following window. If you do not get a result, or the result is not what you want or expected, then make sure that you have selected the correct filter on the left.

Check the “Medicare Information” checkbox for LCDs, NCDs and Articles.

With the “Medicare Information” checkbox checked, you should something that looks like one of the following two options. One or a few results or multiple pages of results.

Click on the LCD, NCD or Article you are interested in and Find-A-Code will take you to it.

Things to know:

• You can search on an LCD, NCD, or Article number. Remember to add the L, N, or A in order to make sure you are getting the LCD, NCD, or Article information rather than a possible code. This will probably produce one result, which would be the current LCD, NCD or Article.
  
  
• You can search on key words. If you add LCD, NCD or Article at the beginning, it will locate only those items and will not search for a specific code. Example: LCD hyperbaric oxygen. This will return all LCDs, NCDs and Articles that relate to hyperbaric oxygen.
  
  
• If your key words do not include LCD, NCD or Article, the search will also return any codes that are included in the code sets selected that relate to hyperbaric oxygen. To eliminate the code returns just make sure that there are no code sets selected in the filters to the left. Uncheck them.
  
  
  
  
• Some search results will give you clues on the search page, which might narrow your options of what you might want to look at.
  
  For Example:
  The ICD-10 icon on two of the search results indicate that these two LCDs have ICD-10 codes listed in the code lists included.

If you need further assistance, please contact our support team.