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Provider Manual

Medical Necessity

Last Updated on February 21, 2024

The Plan reimburses for medically necessary services and appropriate health care services listed in 060, Stats., when provided to currently eligible medical assistance recipients, including emergency services provided by persons or institutions not currently certified. Per DHS 101.03(96m) “Medically necessary” means the following for medical assistance services listed under DHS 107:

  • Required to prevent, identify or treat a recipient’s illness, injury or disability; and
  • Meets the following standards:
    • Is consistent with the recipient’s symptoms or with prevention, diagnosis or treatment of the recipient’s illness, injury or disability
    • Is provided consistent with standards of acceptable quality of care applicable to the type of service, the type of provider and the setting in which the service is provided
    • Is appropriate with regard to generally accepted standards of medical practice
    • Is not medically contraindicated with regard to the recipient’s diagnoses, the recipient’s symptoms or other medically necessary services being provided to the recipient
    • Is of proven medical value or usefulness and, consistent with s. HFS 107.035, is not experimental in nature
    • Is not duplicative with respect to other services being provided to the recipient
    • Is not solely for the convenience of the recipient, the recipient’s family or a provider
    • With respect to prior authorization of a service and to other prospective coverage determinations made by the department, is cost-effective compared to an alternative medically necessary service which is reasonably accessible to the recipient
    • Is the most appropriate supply or level of services that can safely and effectively be provided to the recipient

This definition of “medically necessary” is a legal definition identifying the standards that must be met for approval of the service for BadgerCare/Medicaid members.