29856 CPT® code: payer coverage and prior authorization6 of 6 payer prior-auth lists that name 29856 require prior authorization or set conditions: Cigna, HealthSpring, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.
| Payer | Plan | State | Prior auth | Conditions | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cigna | ACA/IFP | All | prior auth required | May be delegated to eviCore for some clients | Jan 1, 2016 | Master Precertification List (For Health Care Providers) |
| Cigna | Complete/PHS+/Preferred | All | prior auth required | May be delegated to eviCore for some clients | Jan 1, 2016 | Master Precertification List (For Health Care Providers) |
| Cigna | Musculoskeletal | All | prior auth required | Mar 7, 2026 | Cigna Commercial Comprehensive CPT Code Reference for Prior Authorization Across All Programs | |
| Cigna | Musculoskeletal | All | prior auth required | Mar 7, 2026 | Cigna Commercial Prior Authorization Procedure Code List: Musculoskeletal - Joint Surgery | |
| HealthSpring | Medicare Advantage | All | prior auth required | Jan 1, 2025 | 2026 Q4 Prior Authorization List | |
| UnitedHealthcare Community Plan | UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kentucky | KY | prior auth required | Jul 1, 2026 | Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kentucky Effective July 1, 2026 |
29856 appears in 3 coverage policies from Aetna.
| Payer | Policy | Role in policy | Reviewed | Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | Coblation (0475) | listed, no stance (range 29800-29999) | Jul 2, 2026 | payer document |
| Aetna | Remote Ischemic Conditioning (0814) | listed, no stance (range 20000-29999) | Nov 20, 2025 | payer document |
| Aetna | Skin and Soft Tissue Substitutes (0244) | not covered (range 20100-29999) | Jul 29, 2026 | payer document |
Prior authorization required or conditional in WV.
From payers' published prior-auth lists, coverage policies and state Medicaid fee schedules, updated Oct 16, 2026. The role is what the policy's own code table or text says about the code. Not a guarantee of coverage or payment; verify with the payer. CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.