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Provider Manual

Medical necessity

Last Updated on June 25, 2025

Medically necessary, per the Family Health Center Handbook, is a    procedure, supply, equipment or service required for diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury that meets all of the following criteria:

  • Consistent with the symptom(s) or diagnosis and treatment of your illness or injury
  • Generally performed or accepted by the medical or dental profession
  • The most appropriate level of service or type of supply needed for such diagnosis or treatment, provided for an appropriate duration of time and in the most appropriate setting
  • Not solely for the convenience of a member or doctor
  • The least costly of the alternative levels of service or supplies that are adequate and available
  • Generally accepted by medical professionals in the U.S. as proven effective and appropriate based on recognized standards of health care specialty