(1) Prior authorization (PA) may be required for any transplantation service.
- (a) To determine if PA is required, refer to the Utah Medicaid Coverage and Reimbursement Code Lookup tool.
- (2) The Department's evidence-based criteria may be used, when available, as part of the PA process.
- (3) If PA is required, the request must include documentation that the patient meets the organ specific requirements in this rule.
(4) The PA request for transplantation services must include:
- (a) A description of condition needing transplantation;
- (b) Transplantation treatment alternatives utilized previous to the transplant request;
- (c) Transplantation treatment alternatives considered and discarded, including rationale for discarding;
- (d) A comprehensive examination, evaluation and recommendation completed by a Board-Certified or Board-Eligible specialist and medical and surgical specialists in the field directly related to the patient's condition, which demonstrates the need for a transplant. The patient must also demonstrate the ability to tolerate the proposed transplant and subsequent treatment regimen;
- (e) A comprehensive psycho-social evaluation of the patient that includes:
i. motivation for transplant;
- (f) If the patient is less than 18 years of age, a comprehensive psycho-social evaluation of the patient's parent or guardian that includes:
ii. willingness and ability to follow a long-term treatment and follow-up regimen; and
iii. history of active substance use.
i. motivation for transplant;
- (g) A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, if the patient has a history of mental illness.
(h) Documentation of a successfully completed treatment program or abstinence, if the patient has a history of substance use.
- (i) Treatment program success and abstinence are supported by negative drug screens for a minimum of six months, with two negative drug screens in the most recent three months. The timing of the drug screens is in relation to the PA request date.
- (j) If the history of substance use involves drugs other than those listed in this rule under Section R414-10A-2, then the drug screens must include the other substance upon drug testing availability.
(k) The patient may not be an active substance user as defined under Section R414-10A-2.
- (l) Comprehensive infectious disease evaluation for a patient with a recent or current suspected infectious episode.
- (m) All applicable hospital and clinic records.
- (n) Completed cancer screening tests.
- (o) All relevant laboratory and imaging studies.
- (p) Documentation that the patient meets the eligibility and selection criteria for the transplant facility where the transplant will be performed.
- (q) Any other documentation requested by PA or the Department's physician consultants.
- (5) If incomplete documentation is received by the Department, the patient's case is pended until the requested documentation has been received.
- (6) If a transplant requiring PA is performed without PA, reimbursement may be denied for all services related to the transplant up to the outlier threshold days for the specific type of transplant.
- (7) Refer to the Section I: General Information Provider Manual for retroactive authorization for emergency transplant services.
ii. willingness and ability to follow a long-term treatment and follow-up regimen; and
iii. history of active substance use.
KEY: Medicaid
Date of Last Change: June 19, 2025
Notice of Continuation: December 13, 2021
Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 26B-3-104