81538 CPT® code: payer coverage and prior authorization39 of 41 payer prior-auth lists that name 81538 require prior authorization or set conditions: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Cigna, HealthSpring, Humana, Molina Complete Care (Virginia), Molina Healthcare of Arizona, Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida, Molina Healthcare of Idaho, Molina Healthcare of Iowa, Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, Molina Healthcare of Nevada, Molina Healthcare of New Mexico, Molina Healthcare of Ohio, Molina Healthcare of South Carolina, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Molina Healthcare of Utah, and others.
| Payer | Plan | State | Prior auth | Conditions | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue) | AZ Blue-administered Medicare Advantage (M2K) | AZ | prior auth required | Sep 1, 2026 | AZ Blue Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Requirements Code List (Effective 09/01/2026) | |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue) | Standard PA code list (most commercial plans) | AZ | prior auth under conditions | eviCore-delegated groups only | Sep 1, 2026 | AZ Blue Standard Prior Authorization Requirements Code List (09/01/2026) |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue) | State of Arizona employee group (SYD, S3Z) | AZ | prior auth required | Sep 1, 2026 | State of Arizona Group Prior Authorization Requirements Code List (09/01/2026) | |
| 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 | Laboratory Management | All | prior auth required | Oct 1, 2026 | Cigna Lab Codes (title from file name) | |
| Cigna | Laboratory Management | All | prior auth required | Mar 7, 2026 | Cigna Commercial Comprehensive CPT Code Reference for Prior Authorization Across All Programs | |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois | Blue Cross Community MMAI (Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative) | IL | prior auth required | eviCore-managed | Jan 1, 2025 | Procedure Code List, Effective 1/1/2025 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas | Texas PA exemption (gold card), outpatient, fully insured | TX | prior auth required | Gold-card exemption available | Jul 1, 2026 | BCBSTX Outpatient Prior Authorization Exemption Clinical Guidelines (max units, PA exempt date range) |
| HealthSpring | Medicare Advantage | All | prior auth required | Jan 1, 2025 | 2026 Q4 Prior Authorization List | |
| Humana | Humana Healthy Horizons | KY | prior auth required | Jan 1, 2027 | please visit Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky Clinical coverage policies. | |
| Humana | Humana Healthy Horizons | SC | prior auth required | Jan 1, 2027 | Humana Healthy Horizons in South Carolina Prior authorization and Notification List The following list describes services and medications that are commonly reviewed and may require additional clinical | |
| Humana | Humana Healthy Horizons | VA | prior auth required | Jan 1, 2027 | Humana Healthy Horizons in Virginia Prior Authorization and Notification List (PAL) | |
| Humana | Humana Puerto Rico MA and Dual Medicare-Medicaid | PR | prior auth required | Nov 3, 2025 | Puerto Rico Medicare Advantage and Dual Medicare-Medicaid Plans Preauthorization and Notification List Puerto Rico Medicare Advantage and Dual Medicare-Medicaid Plan Preauthorization and Notification | |
| Humana | Oak Street Health | All | prior auth required | Oak Street Health (Humana): Prior Authorization List (PAL) Codes Under Management | ||
| Molina Complete Care (Virginia) | Medicare-only PA matrix for D-SNP | VA | prior auth required | Jan 1, 2022 | Medicare Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix (Virginia), effective Q1 2022 | |
| Molina Complete Care (Virginia) | Medicaid | VA | prior auth required | Apr 1, 2025 | Virginia Medicaid PA Code Matrix and Virginia code/benefit exceptions, effective Q2 2025 | |
| Molina Healthcare of Arizona | Medicare-only PA matrix for D-SNP | AZ | prior auth required | Jan 1, 2022 | Medicare Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix (Arizona), effective Q1 2022 | |
| Molina Healthcare of California | Medicaid | CA | prior auth required | State exception | Apr 1, 2026 | Medicaid Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix (California), effective Q2 2026 |
| Molina Healthcare of California | Medicare Advantage | CA | prior auth required | Jul 1, 2021 | Medicare Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix (California), effective Q3 2021 | |
| Molina Healthcare of Florida | Medicare Advantage | FL | prior auth required | vendor review only eviCore in IL/MI/OH/NY/WI | Apr 1, 2021 | Medicare Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix (Florida), effective Q2 2021 |
| Molina Healthcare of Idaho | Medicare Advantage | ID | prior auth required | vendor review only eviCore in IL/MI/OH/NY/WI | Apr 1, 2021 | Medicare Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix (Idaho), effective Q2 2021 |
| Molina Healthcare of Iowa | Medicaid | IA | prior auth required | Jul 1, 2023 | IA Prior Authorization Matrix, effective Q3 2023 | |
| Molina Healthcare of Michigan | Exchange | MI | prior auth required | Contact eviCore for PA | Jul 1, 2021 | Molina Healthcare of Michigan PA Matrix, effective 7/1/2021 |
| Molina Healthcare of Mississippi | Medicaid | MS | prior auth required | Jan 1, 2025 | Mississippi Medicaid Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix and exceptions, effective Q1 2025 | |
| Molina Healthcare of Nevada | Medicaid | NV | prior auth required | Oct 1, 2022 | Medicaid Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix, effective Q4 2022 | |
| Molina Healthcare of New Mexico | Medicare Advantage | NM | prior auth required | Jan 1, 2021 | Medicare Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix (New Mexico), effective Q1 2021 | |
| Molina Healthcare of Ohio | Medicare and MyCare Ohio (MMP) Medicare | OH | prior auth required | Oct 1, 2023 | Molina Healthcare of Ohio Prior Authorization (PA) Code List, effective 2023-10-01 | |
| Molina Healthcare of Ohio | Exchange | OH | prior auth required | Oct 1, 2023 | Molina Healthcare of Ohio Prior Authorization (PA) Code List, effective 2023-10-01 | |
| Molina Healthcare of South Carolina | Medicare Advantage | SC | prior auth required | Apr 1, 2021 | Medicare Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix (South Carolina), effective Q2 2021 | |
| Molina Healthcare of Texas | STAR | TX | prior auth required | Feb 19, 2025 | Molina Healthcare of Texas Prior Authorization Annual Review Report (STAR), reviewed 2025-02-19 | |
| Molina Healthcare of Texas | STAR+PLUS | TX | prior auth required | Feb 19, 2025 | Molina Healthcare of Texas Prior Authorization Annual Review Report (STAR+PLUS), reviewed 2025-02-19 | |
| Molina Healthcare of Utah | Medicare Advantage | UT | prior auth required | vendor review only eviCore in IL/MI/OH/NY/WI | Apr 1, 2021 | Medicare Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix (Utah), effective Q2 2021 |
| Molina Healthcare of Utah | Medicaid | UT | prior auth required | Jan 1, 2025 | Utah Medicaid Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix and Utah code/benefit exceptions, Q1 2025 | |
| Molina Healthcare of Washington | Medicare Advantage | WA | prior auth required | vendor review only eviCore in IL/MI/OH/NY/WI | Apr 1, 2021 | Medicare Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix (Washington), effective Q2 2021 |
| Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin | Medicare Advantage | WI | prior auth required | Oct 1, 2021 | Medicare Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix (Wisconsin), effective Q4 2021 | |
| Molina Healthcare, Inc. (national grid) | Molina national (MHI) Medicare grid | All | prior auth required | Oct 1, 2021 | Medicare Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix (national), effective Q4 2021 | |
| Rocky Mountain Health Plans | Rocky Mountain Medicare Advantage D-SNP | CO | prior auth required | Feb 1, 2025 | Rocky Mountain Health Plans Medicare Advantage Dual-Special Needs Plans – prior authorization Effective February 1, 2025 | |
| UnitedHealthcare Community Plan | Maryland HealthChoice | MD | prior auth required | Sep 1, 2026 | Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Maryland Effective September 1, 2026 |
81538 appears in 11 coverage policies from Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Blue Cross NC, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Premera Blue Cross, Regence.
| Payer | Policy | Role in policy | Reviewed | Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | Pharmacogenetic and Pharmacodynamic Testing (0715) | not covered | Oct 8, 2026 | payer document |
| Aetna | Tumor Markers (0352) | covered if criteria are met | Aug 25, 2026 | payer document |
| Anthem | Selected Protein Biomarker Algorithmic Assays (LAB.00011) | unproven / investigational | May 14, 2026 | payer document |
| Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi | Comprehensive Genomic Profiling For Selecting Targeted Cancer Therapies (A.2.04.115) | unproven / investigational | payer document | |
| Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi | Proteomic Testing For Targeted Therapy In Nonsmallcell Lung Cancer (A.2.04.125) | unproven / investigational | payer document | |
| Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island | Proteomic Testing for Targeted Therapy in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer | covered if criteria are met | Mar 4, 2026 | payer document |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts | Proteomic Testing for Systemic Therapy in Non-Small-CellLung Cancer (709) | unproven / investigational | payer document | |
| Blue Cross NC | Serum Tumor Markers for Malignancies AHS - G2124 | listed, no stance | Apr 1, 2026 | payer document |
| BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Serum Tumor Markers for Malignancies (CAM 277) | listed, no stance | Apr 1, 2026 | payer document |
| Premera Blue Cross | Proteomic Testing for Systemic Therapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (2.04.125) | listed, no stance | Jan 12, 2026 | payer document |
| Regence | Analysis of Proteomic and Metabolomic Patterns for Cancer Detection, Risk, Prognosis, or Treatment Selection (Laboratory 41) | listed, no stance | Jan 1, 2026 | payer document |
Prior authorization required or conditional in IN, MS, ND.
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.