[CIS PIDD] [cis-pidd] medicare IVIG question

[James L. Friedlander, M.D.]

I have several Medicare patients with B cell lymphoma treated with rituximab that develop recurrent sinopulmonary infections during/after treatment, along with significant hypogammaglobulinemia and non-protective antibody titers.  Medicare is requiring one of the diagnoses listed below before they will approve treatment with immune replacement.  

279.04 Congenital hypogammaglobulinemia
279.05 Immunodeficiency with increased IgM
279.06 CVID
279.12 WAS
279.2 Combined ID

I would argue that none of these are correct, as these patients clearly have drug-induced immunodeficiency.  Listing hypogammaglobulinemia alone or in combination with antibody deficiency for diagnosis codes does not work for Medicare, but this has worked for some private insurance companies.  

Anyone else come across this issue?  Thanks.

Jim Friedlander
Omaha, NE

















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