Clinical UM Guideline
Subject: Custodial Care
Guideline #: CG-MED-19 Publish Date: 01/04/2023
Status: Reviewed Last Review Date: 11/10/2022
Description

This document defines custodial care, a type of care that generally provides assistance in performing activities of daily living (ADL); for example, assistance walking, transferring in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, preparation of food, feeding and supervision of medication that usually can be self-administered. Custodial care essentially is personal care that does not require the continuing attention of trained medical or paramedical personnel.

Note: Please see the following related documents for additional information:

Clinical Indications

Care that does not meet the criteria for skilled nursing or skilled rehabilitation services is considered custodial.
Note: Not all benefit contracts/certificates include benefits for custodial services as defined by this document. Benefit language supersedes this document.

Definition of Custodial Care:

Note: Custodial care may occur in settings other than the home.

Examples of Custodial Care, include, but are not limited to, the following:

Coding

Coding edits for medical necessity review are not implemented for this guideline. Where a more specific policy or guideline exists, that document will take precedence and may include specific coding edits and/or instructions. Inclusion or exclusion of a procedure, diagnosis or device code(s) does not constitute or imply member coverage or provider reimbursement policy. Please refer to the member's contract benefits in effect at the time of service to determine coverage or non-coverage of these services as it applies to an individual member.

Discussion/General Information

Institutional care that is below the level of care covered in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) is custodial care. Some examples of custodial care in hospitals and SNFs include, but are not limited to:

Definitions

Acute Medical Event (includes behavioral health events): A relatively abrupt change in condition that requires medical services, intervention(s) intended to arrest and, hopefully, reverse the condition or conditions. Stabilization can be associated with limited ability to meet basic needs, which are addressed with custodial care.

Cardiac Disorder: Condition(s) that affect heart structures or function such as: coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms, congenital heart disease, vascular disease or heart valve disease.

Severe and Persistent Mental Illness: A mental, behavioral or emotional disorder according to the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, in members 18 years and older, that results in functional impairment which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities (e.g., maintaining interpersonal relationships, activities of daily living, self-care, employment, recreation) that have occurred within the last year. All of these disorders may have acute episodes as part of the chronic course of the disorder. An organization may also use its state's definition or the definition of another appropriate regulatory authority (National Committee for Quality Assurance [NCQA], 2014).

References

Government Agency, Medical Society, and Other Authoritative Publications:

  1. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare Benefit Policy Manual. Chapter 8. Coverage of Extended Care (SNF) Services under Hospital Insurance. Rev. 261, 10-04-19. Available at: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/Downloads/bp102c08pdf.pdf. Accessed on September 15, 2022.
  2. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare Benefit Policy Manual. Chapter 16. General Exclusions from Coverage. Rev.198, 11-06-14. Available at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/Downloads/bp102c16.pdf. Accessed on September 15, 2022.
  3. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare Benefit Policy Manual. Chapter 7. Home Health Services. Rev. 11447, 06-06-22. Available at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/Downloads/bp102c07.pdf. Accessed on September 15, 2022.
Websites for Additional Information
  1. National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Definition of severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). 2014. Available at: www.ncqa.org. Accessed on September 15, 2022.
History

Status

Date

Action

Reviewed

11/10/2022

Medical Policy & Technology Assessment Committee (MPTAC) review. Discussion, References, and Websites sections updated.

Reviewed

11/11/2021

MPTAC review. References and Websites sections updated.

Reviewed

11/05/2020

MPTAC review. References and Websites sections updated.

Reviewed

11/07/2019

MPTAC review. References and Websites sections updated.

Reviewed

11/08/2018

MPTAC review. References and Websites sections updated.

Reviewed

02/27/2018

MPTAC review. Updated header language from “Current Effective Date” to “Publish Date. References section updated.

Revised

02/02/2017

MPTAC review. Note added to Clinical Indications section. Definition of custodial care updated. Examples of custodial care updated in Clinical Indications and Discussion/General Information sections. Definition and Websites for Additional Information sections added.

Reviewed

02/04/2016

MPTAC review. References section updated.

Reviewed

02/05/2015

MPTAC review. Description and References sections updated.

Reviewed

02/13/2014

MPTAC review. Reference links updated.

Reviewed

02/14/2013

MPTAC review. Reference links updated.

Reviewed

02/16/2012

MPTAC review. Reference links updated.

Revised

02/17/2011

MPTAC review. Definition of custodial care and examples of custodial care updated in the Clinical Indication section. Discussion and Reference links updated.

Reviewed

02/25/2010

MPTAC review. Custodial care examples for stable bolus feeding and chronic uncomplicated oral or tracheal suctioning clarified. Place of Service section removed. References updated.

 

06/23/2009

Removed CG-MED-25 Hospice, Inpatient Setting from note referring to related documents as CG MED-25 has been archived.

Reviewed

02/26/2009

MPTAC review. References updated. Note under description updated with additional related document. Removed case management section.

Reviewed

02/21/2008

MPTAC review. Note added under description referring to other documents for additional information. References updated.

Reviewed

03/08/2007

MPTAC review. References updated.

Revised

03/23/2006

MPTAC review. Referenced Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation clinical guideline and aligned definition of custodial care on both documents. 

Revised

12/01/2005

MPTAC review. Revision based on Pre-merger Anthem and Pre-merger WellPoint Harmonization.

Pre-Merger Organizations

Last Review Date

Document Number

Title

 

Anthem, Inc.

 

 

None

 

Anthem Mid West

02/11/2005

MA-020

Skilled Nursing Facility Setting, Skilled and Custodial Services Defined

Anthem Mid West

02/11/2005

MA-021

Home Health Care Setting, Skilled and Custodial Services Defined for NASCO use only

WellPoint Health Networks, Inc.

06/24/2004

Definitions

Custodial Care

 


Federal and State law, as well as contract language, and Coverage Guidelines take precedence over Clinical UM Guidelines. We reserve the right to review and update Clinical UM Guidelines periodically. Clinical guidelines approved by the Medical Policy & Technology Assessment Committee are available for general adoption by plans or lines of business for consistent review of the medical necessity of services related to the clinical guideline when the plan performs utilization review for the subject. Due to variances in utilization patterns, each plan may choose whether to adopt a particular Clinical UM Guideline. To determine if review is required for this Clinical UM Guideline, please contact the customer service number on the member's card.

Alternatively, commercial or FEP plans or lines of business which determine there is not a need to adopt the guideline to review services generally across all providers delivering services to Plan’s or line of business’s members may instead use the clinical guideline for provider education and/or to review the medical necessity of services for any provider who has been notified that his/her/its claims will be reviewed for medical necessity due to billing practices or claims that are not consistent with other providers, in terms of frequency or in some other manner.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without permission from the health plan.

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