Effective 1 de janeiro, 2021, use of a catheter-based inflatable device (balloon ostial dilation) in the treatment of sinusitis, CPT codes 31295-31298, will be considered medically necessary when the criteria in the BCBSRI online prior authorization tool has been met. This change is applicable for BlueCHiP for Medicare and commercial products.

Requests for medical procedures should be obtained using the BCBSRI online prior authorization tool, which is available only to participating providers. All other providers should fax the request to Utilization Management at (401) 272-8885 to complete the prior authorization process. Please see reference to the procedures requiring prior authorization here.