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Whole body CT scans, encompassing the body from the neck to the pelvis have been proposed as a general screening test for diseases of the thyroid (i.e., cancer), lungs (i.e., lung cancer), heart (i.e., cardiovascular disease), and abdominal and pelvic organs (cancer, cardiovascular disease). Often the test is marketed directly to the patient and is offered through mobile CT scanners that travel from community to community. Different aspects of whole body CT scanning as a screening test have been addressed in individual policies, i.e., spiral CT scanning as a screening test for lung cancer is addressed in the Helical Computed Tomography (Spiral CT) for Lung Cancer Screening policy; CT colonography as a screening test for colon cancer is addressed in the Colonscopy, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy, and CT Colonography policy; and CT scanning to detect coronary calcium is addressed in the Computed Tomography to Detect Coronary Artery Calcification policy.

Investigative service is defined as the use of any treatment procedure, facility, equipment, drug, device, or supply not yet recognized by certifying boards and/or approving or licensing agencies or published peer review criteria as standard, effective medical practice for the treatment of the condition being treated and as such therefore is not considered medically necessary.

The coverage guidelines outlined in the Medical Policy Manual should not be used in lieu of the Member's specific benefit plan language.

11/13/2006: Policy reviewed, no changes

3/29/2007: Policy reviewed, description updated, no changes to policy statement

6/3/2009: Policy reviewed, no changes

05/28/2010: Policy description updated. Policy statement unchanged.  FEP verbiage added to the Policy Exceptions section. Deleted outdated references from the sources section.

07/29/2011: Policy reviewed; no changes.

05/09/2012: Policy reviewed; no changes.

All codes billed for this procedure are considered investigational and not eligible for coverage. 

Non-Covered Codes

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