Week of Sep 21, 2026 to Sep 27, 2026: 16 proposed LCDs, 6 revised LCDs, 3 retired LCDs, 43 articles, 1 national item
The Medicare Coverage Database release of October 1, 2026 records these documents as updated during update period 1220, from September 21, 2026 through September 27, 2026. This week was reconstructed from a later release: a document a contractor revised again in a later week appears only under that later week, so the list can be shorter than the release itself was.
16 proposed LCDs entered or changed in the database this week. A proposal is open for written comment until the date shown; the proposed LCD tracker follows each one until the contractor finalizes or retires it.
| Proposal | Title | Comment period | Contractor | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL40454 | Automated Detection and Quantification of Brain MRIs | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC | 16 states and territories |
| DL40464 | Automated Detection and Quantification of Brain MRIs | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | Palmetto GBA | AL GA NC SC TN VA WV |
| DL40456 | Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC | 16 states and territories |
| DL40458 | Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) in Wound and Flap Management | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC | 16 states and territories |
| DL39385 | Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Wound and Flap Management | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | Palmetto GBA | AL GA NC SC TN VA WV |
| DL40466 | Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Wound and Flap Management | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | CGS Administrators, LLC | KY OH |
| DL40477 | Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Wound and Flap Management | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | Wellpoint Federal | 10 states and territories |
| DL40479 | Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Wound and Flap Management | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation | 48 states and territories |
| DL40439 | Real-Time Fluorescence Wound Imaging | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | Wellpoint Federal | 10 states and territories |
| DL40413 | Real-Time Fluorescence Wound Imaging for Bacterial Presence | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | Novitas Solutions, Inc. | 12 states and territories |
| DL40415 | Real-Time Fluorescence Wound Imaging for Bacterial Presence | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | First Coast Service Options, Inc. | FL PR VI |
| DL40437 | Real-Time Fluorescence Wound Imaging for Bacterial Presence | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation | 48 states and territories |
| DL40441 | Real-Time Fluorescence Wound Imaging for Bacterial Presence | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC | 16 states and territories |
| DL40443 | Real-Time Fluorescence Wound Imaging for Bacterial Presence | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | Palmetto GBA | AL GA NC SC TN VA WV |
| DL40468 | Real-Time Fluorescence Wound Imaging for Bacterial Presence | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | CGS Administrators, LLC | KY OH |
| DL40462 | Surgical Treatment of Nails | Proposed LCD; comment period Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC | 16 states and territories |
9 final LCD records changed: new policies, revisions with their effective dates and retirements. A revision dated after the week is already published but applies only to dates of service from its effective date.
| LCD | Title | Change | Contractor | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L40341 | Allergy Diagnostic Testing | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation | 48 states and territories |
| L33686 | Ankle-Foot/Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | CGS Administrators, LLC; Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC | 56 states and territories |
| L33317 | External Breast Prostheses | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | CGS Administrators, LLC; Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC | 56 states and territories |
| L33824 | Immunosuppressive Drugs | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | CGS Administrators, LLC; Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC | 56 states and territories |
| L33788 | Manual Wheelchair Bases | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | CGS Administrators, LLC; Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC | 56 states and territories |
| L33791 | Walkers | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | CGS Administrators, LLC; Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC | 56 states and territories |
| L33417 | Allergy Skin Testing | Retired Sep 27, 2026 | Palmetto GBA | AL GA NC SC TN VA WV |
| L34313 | Allergy Testing | Retired Sep 27, 2026 | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC | AS CA GU HI MP NV |
| L36402 | Allergy Testing | Retired Sep 27, 2026 | Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation | 48 states and territories |
43 articles changed. Billing and coding articles carry the procedure and ICD-10-CM code lists claims are edited against, so a revision here is the change most likely to move a denial; linked IDs open the article on its LCD page.
| Article | Title | Type | Change | Contractor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A52457 | Ankle-Foot/Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses - Policy Article | Article | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | CGS Administrators, LLC; Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A52458 | Automatic External Defibrillators - Policy Article | Article | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | CGS Administrators, LLC; Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A58865 | Billing and Coding: Amniotic and Placental-Derived Product Injections and/or Applications for Musculoskeletal Indications, Non-Wound | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A58893 | Billing and Coding: Amniotic and Placental-Derived Product Injections and/or Applications for Musculoskeletal Indications, Non-Wound | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Wellpoint Federal |
| A59657 | Billing and Coding: Artificial Hearts and Percutaneous Endovascular Cardiac Assist Procedures and Devices | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A57083 | Billing and Coding: B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Testing | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A57161 | Billing and Coding: Benign Skin Lesion Removal (Excludes Actinic Keratosis, and Mohs) | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A52850 | Billing and Coding: Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Wellpoint Federal |
| A56743 | Billing and Coding: Cardiovascular Nuclear Medicine | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Wellpoint Federal |
| A57183 | Billing and Coding: Cardiovascular Stress Testing, Including Exercise and/or Pharmacological Stress and Stress Echocardiography | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A57326 | Billing and Coding: Electrocardiograms | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A56867 | Billing and Coding: Genomic Sequence Analysis Panels in the Treatment of Solid Organ Neoplasms | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Wellpoint Federal |
| A53058 | Billing and Coding: Home Health Physical Therapy | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Palmetto GBA |
| A57948 | Billing and Coding: Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A57092 | Billing and Coding: Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Wellpoint Federal |
28 more articles updated this week
| Article | Title | Type | Change | Contractor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A55239 | Billing and Coding: Implantable Infusion Pumps for Chronic Pain | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A56766 | Billing and Coding: Incision and Drainage (I&D) of Abscess of Skin, Subcutaneous and Accessory Structures | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Wellpoint Federal |
| A57689 | Billing and Coding: Lab: Flow Cytometry | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A57206 | Billing and Coding: Lumbar MRI | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A57204 | Billing and Coding: MRI and CT Scans of the Head and Neck | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A54969 | Billing and Coding: Nerve Conduction Studies and Electromyography | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A58095 | Billing and Coding: Non-Invasive Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) for Ischemic Heart Disease | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A56787 | Billing and Coding: Nonvascular Extremity Ultrasound | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Wellpoint Federal |
| A53065 | Billing and Coding: Outpatient Physical Therapy | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Palmetto GBA |
| A56865 | Billing and Coding: Psychiatric Inpatient Hospitalization | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Wellpoint Federal |
| A56152 | Billing and Coding: Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A57224 | Billing and Coding: Respiratory Care | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A57189 | Billing and Coding: Serum Magnesium | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A60279 | Billing and Coding: Temporary Nontherapeutic Ambulatory Cardiac Monitoring Devices | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A52868 | Billing and Coding: Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Wellpoint Federal |
| A56781 | Billing and Coding: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Wellpoint Federal |
| A58565 | Billing and Coding: Wound and Ulcer Care | Billing and Coding | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A52434 | Health and Behavior Assessment/Intervention – Medical Policy Article | Article | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Wellpoint Federal |
| A52497 | Manual Wheelchair Bases - Policy Article | Article | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | CGS Administrators, LLC; Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A52479 | Oral Anticancer Drugs - Policy Article | Article | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | CGS Administrators, LLC; Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A52480 | Oral Antiemetic Drugs (Replacement for Intravenous Antiemetics) - Policy Article | Article | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | CGS Administrators, LLC; Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A53032 | Self-Administered Drug Exclusion List: | SAD Exclusion Article | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A53033 | Self-Administered Drug Exclusion List: | SAD Exclusion Article | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A53021 | Self-Administered Drug Exclusion List: Medical Policy Article | SAD Exclusion Article | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | Wellpoint Federal |
| A52503 | Walkers - Policy Article | Article | Revised, effective Oct 1, 2026 (future) | CGS Administrators, LLC; Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A56559 | Billing and Coding: Allergy Skin Testing | Billing and Coding | Retired Sep 27, 2026 | Palmetto GBA |
| A57181 | Billing and Coding: Allergy Testing | Billing and Coding | Retired Sep 27, 2026 | Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC |
| A57473 | Billing and Coding: Allergy Testing | Billing and Coding | Retired Sep 27, 2026 | Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation |
National coverage items this week
The report used here was pulled on September 27, 2026, during this week, so later items of the week may be missing.
- NCA CAG-00436R Screening for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in Adults (open): Posted new tracking sheet. (Sep 23, 2026)
Reading an archived week
Each row is a document whose record was updated in this window. A revised LCD or article usually takes effect on the date shown, which can fall after the week; claims are judged under the version in force on their date of service, so an archived week tells you when a change was published, not when it began to apply. Proposed LCDs listed here may since have been finalised or retired; the proposed LCD tracker shows where each one stands today, and the latest weeks carry the current open national coverage analyses.
For teams evaluating QuickIntell software
Where QuickIntell fits in coverage checks
For recurring authorization work, evaluate requirement checks, documentation preparation, submission and status tracking with staff oversight. Confirm plan-specific requirements and supported actions in a scoped QuickAuth evaluation; a coverage policy is not an authorization or payment guarantee.
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Sources
Every figure on this page is taken from the CMS publications below, as released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Projection built 2026-10-10. Verify against the primary file before billing or contracting decisions. The reference methodology explains how each figure is computed from these files.
- Medicare Coverage Database, current LCD exportVersion MCD release 2026-10-08 · effective 2026-10-04 · file lcd.csvSHA-256 9aee1bd7f14056b0…
- Medicare Coverage Database, current Billing and Coding Articles exportVersion MCD release 2026-10-08 · effective 2026-10-04 · file article.csvSHA-256 5e95c4a8ac3664be…
- Medicare Coverage Database what's-new report (national) via the CMS Coverage APIVersion API snapshot 2026-09-27 · effective 2026-09-27 · file whats-new-national.jsonSHA-256 e6ed9b3c57554bf7…
Disclaimer
This archived week reproduces document titles, dates and contractors from the CMS Medicare Coverage Database as published at the time. Policies may have changed since; check the current record on cms.gov before billing. Not legal, clinical or billing advice.
Found a figure that does not match the CMS file? Report a data correction with the CMS file and the value you expected; the request reaches the editorial team through the contact form.