Where this LCD applies
Each contract number is a jurisdiction on the remittance; the policy binds claims processed under these contracts and no others.
| Contract | Contractor | Type | States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09101 | First Coast Service Options, Inc. | A and B MAC | FL |
| 09201 | First Coast Service Options, Inc. | A and B MAC | PR VI |
| 09102 | First Coast Service Options, Inc. | A and B MAC | FL |
| 09202 | First Coast Service Options, Inc. | A and B MAC | PR |
| 09302 | First Coast Service Options, Inc. | A and B MAC | VI |
Billing and coding: diagnoses and procedure codes
Since 2019 the codes live in the companion article rather than the LCD. Billing and Coding A57029 (Billing and Coding: Ultrasound, Soft Tissues of Head and Neck) carries the diagnosis and procedure lists the contractor loads as the claims edit. CPT codes are shown as bare numbers because the descriptors are licensed by the AMA; HCPCS Level II descriptors are public and shown.
A57029: Billing and Coding: Ultrasound, Soft Tissues of Head and Neck (Billing and Coding, effective 2022-10-01)
- Covered ICD-10-CM codes
- 80
- 1 group
- Non-covered ICD-10-CM codes
- 1
- Procedure codes listed
- 1
- Full article
- cms.gov record
| ICD-10-CM | Description (FY2027) |
|---|---|
| C47.0 | — |
| C49.0 | — |
| C73 | Malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland |
| C74.00 | — |
| C74.01 | — |
| C74.02 | — |
| C74.10 | — |
| C74.11 | — |
| C74.12 | — |
| C74.90 | — |
| C74.91 | — |
| C74.92 | — |
| C75.0 | — |
| C75.4 | — |
| C76.0 | — |
| C77.0 | — |
| C83.11 | — |
| C83.31 | — |
| C83.51 | — |
| C83.81 | — |
| C84.41 | — |
| C84.61 | — |
| C84.71 | — |
| C85.21 | — |
Procedure codes: 76536.
Coverage indications, limitations and medical necessity
Covered Indications
Ultrasound of the head and neck will be considered medically reasonable and necessary when used for the following indications:
• Evaluation of abnormalities in the tissues and/or organs of the head and neck (i.e., palpable masses)
• Evaluation of abnormalities detected on other imaging examinations (i.e., areas of abnormal uptake seen on radioisotope thyroid examinations)
• Personal or family history of thyroid malignancies
• Evaluation of suspected regional nodal metastases in patients with a proven thyroid carcinoma
• Follow-up of lesion/nodule (i.e., after medical suppression therapy)
• Localization of thyroid/parathyroid glands or cervical lymph nodes for biopsy, ablation, or other interventional procedures
For guidance regarding ordering tests, provider qualifications and supervision of diagnostic testing, please refer to 42 CFR §410.32 - Diagnostic x-ray tests, diagnostic laboratory tests, and other diagnostic tests: Conditions.
Limitations
As published in the CMS IOM Publication 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual , Chapter 13, Section 13.5.4, an item or service may be covered by a contractor LCD if it is reasonable and necessary under the Social Security Act Section 1862 (a)(1)(A). Contractors shall determine and describe the circumstances under which the item or service is considered reasonable and necessary.
Summary of evidence (opening)
N/A
the full summary and analysis of evidence are in the CMS record.
Dates, lineage and related policies
- Original determination effective
- 2015-10-01
- Current revision effective
- 2019-01-08
- Last reviewed by the contractor
- 2018-03-28
- MCD version
- 14
- Derived from
- L29001
The contractor lists one National Coverage Determination as related: NCD 220.5 Ultrasound Diagnostic Procedures. Where an NCD speaks, it controls; the LCD can only address what the NCD leaves open.
Using this policy on a claim
Match the documented indication to the covered indications above before the service is scheduled, carry a diagnosis from the article's covered list on the claim line, and keep the elements the documentation section asks for in the record, because the contractor can request it later through medical review. A denial under this policy arrives as CARC 50 with remark N115; the LCD lookup guide walks through the appeal path and the Advance Beneficiary Notice rules, and the First Coast Service Options, Inc. hub lists every other active policy from the same contractor.
Frequently asked questions
What does LCD L34027 cover?
Ultrasound of the head and neck will be considered medically reasonable and necessary when used for the following indications: The full indications and limitations are reproduced on this page from the CMS Medicare Coverage Database export of September 24, 2026.
Which states does LCD L34027 apply to?
First Coast Service Options, Inc. applies it to Medicare claims in FL, PR, VI. A Local Coverage Determination binds only the contractor that wrote it; the same service in another jurisdiction is judged under that contractor's own policy or, where none exists, claim by claim.
Which diagnosis codes support medical necessity under LCD L34027?
The companion billing and coding article A57029 lists 80 ICD-10-CM codes in 1 group that support medical necessity and 1 that do not; the first 24 appear on this page and the complete list is in the article on cms.gov.
How do I appeal a denial under LCD L34027?
The remittance carries claim adjustment reason code 50 with remark code N115, naming the LCD. Compare the documented indication with the policy's covered indications and the article's diagnosis list, then file a redetermination within 120 days with the record attached; if the service genuinely falls outside the policy, the patient can be billed only when a valid Advance Beneficiary Notice was obtained before the service.
Sources
Every figure on this page is taken from the CMS publications below, as released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Projection built 2026-10-02. Verify against the primary file before billing or contracting decisions.
- Medicare Coverage Database, current LCD exportVersion MCD release 2026-09-24 · effective 2026-09-20 · file lcd.csvSHA-256 2fcc4251b6ddd1eb…
- Medicare Coverage Database, current Billing and Coding Articles exportVersion MCD release 2026-09-24 · effective 2026-09-20 · file article.csvSHA-256 f31932f1df3b4035…
- ICD-10-CM FY2027 code descriptionsVersion FY2027 · effective 2026-10-01 · file icd10cm_codes_2027.txtSHA-256 3c0583a38ee0e848…
Disclaimer
The policy text and code lists are reproduced from the CMS Medicare Coverage Database export as an operational reference. Verify against the current LCD and article on cms.gov before billing; coverage depends on the full record and the contractor. Not legal, clinical or billing advice.