Cranial Helmet denials: what the review data shows

Where the denial was overturned

Findings: The physician reviewer found that Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: The patient’s parent has requested reimbursement for a cranial remolding helmet. The submitted documentation supports the medical necessity of the equipment at issue. Positional plagiocephaly and deformational brachycephaly are broad terms used to encompass abnormal head shape due to a wide variety of etiologies. Prenatal causes may include the resting of the fetal head against a hard surface, such as the mother’s pelvis or the limb of a sibling in a multiple gestation pregnancy, for a prolonged period, while postnatal causes are more common and may include congenital torticollis, vertebral anomalies, neurologic impairment, or forced sleep positions.

Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: The patient’s parent has requested reimbursement for a custom cranial remolding orthotic. Positional plagiocephaly and deformational brachycephaly are broad terms used to encompass abnormal head shape due to a wide variety of etiologies. Prenatal causes may include the resting of the fetal head against a hard surface, such as the mother’s pelvis or the limb of a sibling in a multiple gestation pregnancy, for a prolonged period, while postnatal causes are more common and may include congenital torticollis, vertebral anomalies, neurologic impairment, or forced sleep positions. Presentation ranges from mild or moderate cases, that may respond to mechanical adjustments and exercises, to severe cases that are refractory to repositioning and may require surgery for correction.

Where the denial was upheld

Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: The patient’s parent has requested authorization and coverage for a DOC Band cranial remolding orthotic device. Laughlin and colleagues found that positional skull deformities may be present at birth or may develop during the first few months of life and are generally benign and reversible. The authors recommended positioning and observation for mild-to-moderate deformity, noting that cranial orthoses should be reserved for severe cases of deformity or for the infant whose deformity does not improve after six months of age.

Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: The patient’s parent has requested reimbursement for cranial remolding orthosis.Findings: The physician reviewer found that Positional plagiocephaly and deformational brachycephaly are terms used to encompass abnormal head shape due to a wide variety of etiologies and can range from mild to severe. Patients with mild and moderate plagiocephaly or brachycephaly may respond to mechanical adjustments and exercises. However, some patients present with severe and refractory to repositioning. The current treatment for patients with mild head shape abnormalities includes repositioning, physical therapy, and increased time in the prone position. Most providers currently recommend cranial orthoses for infant patients with moderate to severe skull deformities.

These are outcomes from California’s external review program — an independent physician panel that binds the insurer. Every state has an equivalent process, and internal appeals succeed even more often. Cite the outcome record for Cranial Helmetwhen you appeal: reviewers routinely find that denials like yours didn’t hold up.