Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) A second opinion shall be obtained for any elective surgical procedures listed under (b) below. The outcome of the second opinion shall have no bearing on reimbursement. Once the second opinion is rendered, the beneficiary shall retain the right to decide whether or not to proceed with the surgery; however, failure to obtain a second opinion for these procedures shall result in a denial of the hospital claim.
1. If the operating physician determines that the need for surgery is urgent or is an emergency, no second opinion shall be required. "Urgent" or "emergency" includes any situation in which a delay in performing surgery in order to meet the second opinion requirement could result in a significant threat to the patient's health or life.
i. Reimbursement for urgent or emergency surgery shall be made only if a specific statement is attached to the claim form by the operating physician certifying that the second opinion requirement was not met and substantiating the urgent or emergency nature of the surgery.
2. If the Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare beneficiary is covered by another health insurance carrier (except Medicare), which makes only partial payment on the claim, the fiscal agent shall not make supplementary payment unless the second opinion requirement has been met. However, the fiscal agent shall make payment on the claim if the hospital receives documentation that a second opinion was arranged for and paid for by another health insurance carrier. A copy of this documentation shall be attached to the claim form.
(b) The following elective surgical procedures fall under the Second Opinion Program:
1. Hernia Repair (common abdominal wall type);
i. A second opinion shall be required for any herniorrhaphy involving an adult over 18 years of age.
ii. A second opinion shall not be required for herniorrhaphy involving a child or young adult 18 years of age or under.
2. Hysterectomy (See also 10:52-2.14);
3. Laminectomy;
4. Spinal fusion;
i. A second opinion shall not be required for spinal fusion for scoliosis in a child or young adult 18 years of age or under.
(c) A second opinion shall be arranged through the Medicaid Second Opinion Referral Services of the Provider Services Unit at the fiscal agent.
1. A consultation ordered by a physician shall not meet the Program's definition of a second opinion and no "Authorization for Payment" shall be granted based on such a consultation. The only exception to this policy involves second opinions arranged and paid for by other health insurance carriers. (See (a)2 above.)
2. In order to prevent claim denial as a result of a situation in which one of the elective surgical procedures is scheduled and performed before the second opinion requirement is met, it is suggested that the elective surgery not be scheduled until after the second opinion has been rendered.
(d) Neither the physician claim nor hospital claim associated with one of the second opinion procedures shall be paid unless attached to the hard copy is an "Authorization for Payment," or documentation of a second opinion arranged through another health insurance carrier, or a specific statement from the operating physician certifying that the second opinion requirement was not met and substantiating the urgent or emergency nature of the surgery.
1. Reimbursement shall not be made for a second opinion rendered to an individual who is not a Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare fee-for-service beneficiary. The issuance of a Second Opinion Referral to the beneficiary by the Program's Second Opinion Referral Services of the Provider Services Unit shall not guarantee the individual's eligibility on the date of the second opinion or subsequent surgery. The individual's current Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare eligibility shall be verified by checking the individual's current New Jersey HBID card before rendering any service. (See N.J.A.C. 10:49-2.2 and
2.5, Administration--How to Identify a Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare Beneficiary).
(e) For physician requirements regarding Second Opinion procedures, see N.J.A.C. 10:54, Physician Services.
