Medical Policy Invasive Treatment for Urinary Incontinence
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Medical Policy
Invasive Treatment for Urinary
Incontinence
Subject: Invasive Treatment for Urinary Incontinence
Background:
Urinary incontinence (the involuntary loss of urine) is a symptom that can be caused by a wide range of
conditions including bladder dysfunction, sphincter incompetence, prostate problems (e.g., benign prostatic
hypertrophy, prostatic carcinoma) or nerve damage. Symptoms of urinary incontinence (UI) can range from mild
leaking to uncontrollable wetting. UI typically becomes more common with age, and women experience
symptoms more often than men. There are four prevalent types of UI that occur in adults:
• Stress Incontinence: The most common type of leakage, stress incontinence typically occurs during
physical movement or activity (e.g., coughing, sneezing, running, heavy lifting) that puts pressure on the
bladder. The primary causes of stress incontinence are urethral sphincter weakness (intrinsic sphincter
deficiency) or a hypermobile urethra that occurs when there is weakness of pelvic floor and poor support
of the vesicourethral sphincter unit.
• Urge incontinence: Often referred to as "overactive bladder", urge incontinence is the unintentional loss
of urine caused by the contraction of an overactive detrusor muscle (smooth muscle found in wall of
bladder), usually associated with a sense of urgency. Urge incontinence is more commonly seen in men.
• Overflow incontinence: Characterized by frequent small urinations and dribbling, overflow incontinence
occurs when the bladder is full and unable to empty. Overflow incontinence is most common in men with
a history of surgery or prostate problems, and rare in women.
• Mixed incontinence: Mixed incontinence most commonly refers to a combination of stress and urge
incontinence.
Diagnostic evaluation for UI includes a complete history and physical, urinalysis, and diagnostic testing including
urodynamic testing (if indicated) to assess urinary tract function, bladder filling and storage, and bladder
emptying. Conservative management may include Kegel exercises, behavioral therapies, mechanical devices, and
pharmacotherapies. When conservative treatment fails to improve the condition, invasive and/or surgical
intervention may be necessary.
Artificial Urinary Sphincter is a useful alternative when conservative interventions have failed. Implantation of an
AUS is a commonly used surgical option for the management of male urethral deficiency especially following
prostatectomy. To be considered for AUS implantation, the patient must be motivated and have sufficient physical
and mental dexterity to operate the device. AUS may also be indicated in patients with epispadias-exstrophy
(when bladder neck reconstruction has failed), women (when behavioral or pharmacologic therapies, or other
surgical options have failed), and children with intractable UI who are refractory to pharmacologic therapies or
unsuitable for other types of surgical procedures.
Bladder Neck Suspension: Bladder neck suspension surgery adds support to the bladder neck and urethra,
reducing the risk of stress incontinence. The Burch procedure involves placing sutures in vaginal tissue near the
neck of the bladder (where the bladder and urethra meet) and attaching them to ligaments near the pubic bone.
HPHC Medical Policy Public Domain Page 1 of 6
Invasive Treatment for Urinary Incontinence VA30JUN21P
HPHC policies are based on medical science, and written to apply to the majority of people with a given condition. Individual members’ unique
clinical circumstances, and capabilities of the local delivery system are considered when making individual UM determinations.
Coverage described in this policy is standard under most HPHC plans. Specific benefits may vary by product and/or employer group. Please
reference appropriate member materials (e.g. Benefit Handbook, Certificate of Coverage) for member-specific benefit information.Periurethral Bulking Agents: Periurethral bulking agents have been widely used for incontinence in women; men
with postprostatectomy incontinence have also been treated successfully. Injectable bulking agents are space-
filling substances, injected periurethrally as a liquid that then solidifies into a spongy material, used to increase
tissue bulk in the urethral wall, thereby increasing resistance to the outflow of urine. Bulking agents may be
injected over a course of several treatments until the desired effect is achieved.
Sling Procedures: Sling procedures are the most common invasive treatment for stress incontinence. Although
slings have traditionally been used in patients who fail primary incontinence surgery, they are becoming more
common than primary procedures.
• Pubovaginal (Bladder neck/proximal urethral) sling procedures are performed through a vaginal incision
and use a strip of tissue/fascia or mesh to support the bladder neck.
• Mid-urethral slings are newer procedures that use synthetic mesh materials placed midway along the
urethra. The two general types of mid-urethral slings are retropubic slings (i.e., transvaginal/TVT tapes,
and transobturator/TOT slings). The TVT procedure is a modification of the pubovaginal sling. The TOT
procedure was developed as an alternative to the TVT procedure; its proposed advantage is the
avoidance of a transpelvic introduction.
• The bulbourethral sling surgery uses a sling placed beneath the urethra and attached to either muscle
tissue or the pubic bone. The sling compresses and elevates the urethra, giving the urethra greater
resistance to pressure from the abdomen. It is usually used for men who have lost their urethral
sphincter function because of prostate treatment, other surgery, or trauma.
Authorization:
Prior authorization is required for all invasive procedures for urinary incontinence requested for members enrolled
in commercial and Marketplace/Exchange (HMO, POS, PPO) products.
This policy utilizes InterQual® criteria and/or tools, which Harvard Pilgrim may have customized. You may
request authorization and complete the automated authorization questionnaire via HPHConnect at
www.harvardpilgrim.org/providerportal. In some cases, clinical documentation and/or color photographs may be
required to complete a medical necessity review. Please submit required documentation as follows:
• Clinical notes/written documentation —via HPHConnect Clinical Upload or secure fax (800-232-0816)
• Photographs— HPHConnect Clinical Upload function, email (utilization_requests@harvardpilgrim.org), or
mail (Utilization Management, 1600 Crown Colony Dr., Quincy, MA 02169). Please note that photographs
should not be faxed as faxed photos cannot be utilized in making a medical necessity determination.
Providers may view and print the medical necessity criteria and questionnaire via HPHConnect for providers
(Select Resources and the InterQual® link) or contact the commercial Provider Service Center at 800-708-4414.
(To register for HPHConnect, follow the instructions here.) Members may access these materials by logging into
their online account (visit www.harvardpilgrim.org, click on Member Login, then Plan Details, Prior Authorization
for Care, and the link to clinical criteria) or by calling Member Services at 888-333-4742.
Policy and Coverage Criteria:
For this policy, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HPHC) draws upon the following InterQual® criteria:
• Bladder Neck Suspension/Sling, Female (Version 2021)
• Urethral Sling, Male (Version 2021)
HPHC requires the following criteria for the procedures listed below:
HPHC Medical Policy Public Domain Page 2 of 6
Invasive Treatment for Urinary Incontinence VA30JUN21P
HPHC policies are based on medical science, and written to apply to the majority of people with a given condition. Individual members’ unique
clinical circumstances, and capabilities of the local delivery system are considered when making individual UM determinations.
Coverage described in this policy is standard under most HPHC plans. Specific benefits may vary by product and/or employer group. Please
reference appropriate member materials (e.g. Benefit Handbook, Certificate of Coverage) for member-specific benefit information.Artificial Urinary Sphincter (AUS) Surgery
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HPHC) considers artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) surgery as reasonable and
medically necessary when documentation confirms member has urinary incontinence due to intrinsic urethral
sphincter deficiency (IUSD) and ANY of the following:
• Female with on-going intractable incontinence, and history of failed behavioral therapy, pharmacological
therapy, AND prior surgical treatment(s) for incontinence, OR
• Male at least six months post-prostatectomy surgery with severe on-going incontinence following failed
trials of behavioral and pharmacological therapies
Periurethral Bulking Agents
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HPHC) considers periurethral bulking agents approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence when documentation confirms ALL the
following:
• Failure of 12 months of conservative therapy (e.g. exercise, pharmacotherapy); AND
• Abdominal leak point remaining < 100 cm H2O for females;
A maximum of five treatment sessions is covered.
Exclusions:
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HPHC) considers treatment for urinary incontinence as not medically necessary for
all other indications.
Supporting Information:
The use of bulking agents in women is restricted to women wanting to avoid surgical procedures and in women
with recurrent/refractory incontinence despite a prior surgical procedure. Artificial urinary sphincter placement is a
rare choice of treatment for women with stress incontinence and intrinsic sphincter deficiency and is restricted to
cases not responding to other common treatments due to its high invasiveness and high revision rates.
Stress incontinence-males: Based on a 2019 UpToDate report, commonly used male stress incontinence
interventions are transurethral bulking agents, perineal slings, and the artificial urinary sphincter. Bulking agents
are preferred for men with mild stress incontinence and for men with contraindications for surgery. Artificial
urinary sphincter is considered the most effective long-term treatment for men with severe stress incontinence.
UpToDate reported that a prior artificial urinary sphincter is associated with a higher sling failure, while prior sling
placement is not associated with higher artificial urinary sphincter placement failures. History of bulking agent use
does not seem to affect outcomes of either artificial sphincter or sling procedure.
The American Urological Association (AUA, 2019) states that urinary incontinence after prostate treatment is a
clinically significant condition and supports the management of those who need treatment. The guidelines advise
that individuals with bothersome stress urinary incontinence after prostate treatment should be offered surgical
treatment one-year post-prostate treatment if conservative therapy has already been utilized unsuccessfully.
The American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS, 2018) guidelines note that urethral bulking is an FDA-approved
therapy to treat adult female stress urinary incontinence due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency. Although urethral
bulking is considered an acceptable treatment for urinary incontinence, individuals whose incontinence does not
improve with five injection procedures (five separate treatment sessions) are considered treatment failures and
no additional treatment should be attempted.
HPHC Medical Policy Public Domain Page 3 of 6
Invasive Treatment for Urinary Incontinence VA30JUN21P
HPHC policies are based on medical science, and written to apply to the majority of people with a given condition. Individual members’ unique
clinical circumstances, and capabilities of the local delivery system are considered when making individual UM determinations.
Coverage described in this policy is standard under most HPHC plans. Specific benefits may vary by product and/or employer group. Please
reference appropriate member materials (e.g. Benefit Handbook, Certificate of Coverage) for member-specific benefit information.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2016) guidelines recommend conventional treatment
(e.g. lifestyle changes, pelvic floor muscle training) for the management of urinary incontinence in women. When
these conservative measures are unsuccessful, surgery may be considered. The guidelines note that when
previous surgery has failed, insertion of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) may be required.
Afraa et al. 2011 conducted a retrospective review of 16 individuals (out of a cohort of 52 patients) who had
stress urinary incontinence (SUI) pre- and post- artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) placement. The mean age was
68 ± 6.3 years, and the duration of incontinence was 3 ± 2.7 years. Data comparison pre- and post-AUS
implantation revealed statistically significant improvement in bladder capacity from 271 ± 117 to 295.6 ± 151 mL
(p = 0.05). The authors concluded that preoperative urodynamic irregularities improved after implantation of
AUS.
Coding:
Codes are listed below for informational purposes only, and do not guarantee member coverage or
provider reimbursement. The list may not be all-inclusive. Deleted codes and codes which are not
effective at the time the service is rendered may not be eligible.
CPT® Code Description
51715 Endoscopic injection of implant material into the submucosal tissues of the urethra and/or
bladder neck
51840 Anterior vesicourethropexy, or urethropexy (e.g., Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz, Burch); simple
51841 Anterior vesicourethropexy, or urethropexy (e.g., Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz, Burch);
complicated (e.g., secondary repair)
51845 Abdomino-vaginal vesical neck suspension, with or without endoscopic control (e.g., Stamey,
Raz, modified Pereyra)
51990 Laparoscopy, surgical; urethral suspension for stress incontinence
51992 Laparoscopy, surgical; sling operation for stress incontinence (e.g., fascia or synthetic)
53440 Sling operation for correction of male urinary incontinence (e.g., fascia or synthetic)
53444 Insertion of tandem cuff (dual cuff)
53445 Insertion of inflatable urethral/bladder neck sphincter, including placement of pump, reservoir,
and cuff
57288 Sling operation for stress incontinence (e.g., fascia or synthetic)
57289 Pereyra procedure, including anterior colporrhaphy
Billing Guidelines:
Member’s medical records must document that services are medically necessary for the care provided. Harvard
Pilgrim Health Care maintains the right to audit the services provided to our members, regardless of the
participation status of the provider. All documentation must be available to HPHC upon request. Failure to
produce the requested information may result in denial or retraction of payment.
References:
1. Afraa TA, Campeau L, Mahfouz W, Corcos J. Urodynamic parameters evolution after artificial urinary sphincter
implantation for post-radical prostatectomy incontinence with concomitant bladder dysfunction. Can J Urol
2011; 18:5695.
HPHC Medical Policy Public Domain Page 4 of 6
Invasive Treatment for Urinary Incontinence VA30JUN21P
HPHC policies are based on medical science, and written to apply to the majority of people with a given condition. Individual members’ unique
clinical circumstances, and capabilities of the local delivery system are considered when making individual UM determinations.
Coverage described in this policy is standard under most HPHC plans. Specific benefits may vary by product and/or employer group. Please
reference appropriate member materials (e.g. Benefit Handbook, Certificate of Coverage) for member-specific benefit information.2. Clemens JQ. Urinary incontinence in men. UpToDate.com/login [via subscription only]. Accessed April 19,
2021.
3. Coding for Urethral Bulking. Augs.org.
https://www.augs.org/assets/1/6/Coding_Fact_Sheet_for_Urethral_Bulking_2018.pdf. Published 2018.
Accessed April 19, 2021.
4. Extraurethral (non-circumferential) retropubic adjustable compression devices for stress urinary incontinence
in women | Guidance | NICE. Nice.org.uk. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg576. Published 2016.
Accessed April 19, 2021.
5. FDA Reclassifies Transvaginal Mesh as High-risk Class III Device. ECRI.org. Accessed April 16, 2021.
6. Holroyd-Leduc JM, Straus SE. Management of urinary incontinence in women: Scientific review. JAMA.
2004;291(8):986-995.
7. Incontinence after Prostate Treatment: AUA/SUFU Guideline (2019) - American Urological Association.
https://www.auanet.org/guidelines/incontinence-after-prostate-treatment. Published 2019. Accessed April 16,
2021.
8. Kobashi KC, Albo ME, Dmochowski RR, et al. Surgical Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI):
AUA/SUFU Guideline. American Urological Association. Published 2017. Accessed April 16, 2021.
9. Management of stress urinary incontinence in women: Preoperative evaluation for a primary procedure.
UpToDate.com/login [via subscription only]. Accessed April 16, 2021.
10. National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health. Urinary incontinence: the management of
urinary incontinence in women. Clinical guideline; no. 171. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
(NICE). Updated 2013. Accessed April 16, 2021
11. National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Incontinence Control Devices (230.10). CMS.gov. Accessed April
19, 2021.
12. Stav K, Dwyer PL, Rosamilia A, et al. Repeat synthetic mid urethral sling procedure for women with recurrent
stress urinary incontinence. J Urol. 2010;183(1):241-246.
13. Stress urinary incontinence in women: Persistent/recurrent symptoms after surgical treatment.
UpToDate.com/login [via subscription only]. Accessed April 19, 2021.
14. Surgical management of stress urinary incontinence in women: Bladder neck fascial sling procedures.
UpToDate.com/login [via subscription only]. Accessed April 19, 2021.
15. Surgical management of stress urinary incontinence in women: Choosing a primary surgical procedure.
UpToDate.com/login [via subscription only]. Accessed April 19, 2021.
16. Surgical management of stress urinary incontinence in women: Choosing a type of midurethral sling.
UpToDate.com/login [via subscription only]. Accessed April 19, 2021.
17. Surgical management of stress urinary incontinence in women: Retropubic mid-urethral slings.
UpToDate.com/login [via subscription only]. Accessed April 16, 2021.
18. Transvaginal synthetic mesh: Use in stress urinary incontinence (SUI). UpToDate.com/login [via subscription
only]. Accessed April 16, 2021.
19. Treatment of urinary incontinence in women. UpToDate.com/login [via subscription only]. Accessed April 15,
2021.
20. Vasavada SP, Carmel ME, Rackley RR. Urinary Incontinence. Medscape.com. Accessed April 15, 2021.
HPHC Medical Policy Public Domain Page 5 of 6
Invasive Treatment for Urinary Incontinence VA30JUN21P
HPHC policies are based on medical science, and written to apply to the majority of people with a given condition. Individual members’ unique
clinical circumstances, and capabilities of the local delivery system are considered when making individual UM determinations.
Coverage described in this policy is standard under most HPHC plans. Specific benefits may vary by product and/or employer group. Please
reference appropriate member materials (e.g. Benefit Handbook, Certificate of Coverage) for member-specific benefit information.Summary of Changes:
Date Changes
5/21 Annual review; 2021 InterQual® subsets adopted
6/20 Annual review; InterQual® criteria adopted
6/19 Annual review; no changes
1/18 Bladder neck fascial sling and mid-urethral sling added with criteria; references
updated, supporting information added
12/16 Add Background information, language and formatting changes, update references.
Add Coding disclaimer. Revise title.
Approved by Clinical Medical Policy Committee: 5/11/21
Approved by Clinical Policy Operational Committee: 1/15; 10/15, 12/16, 1/18, 6/19; 7/20; 5/21
Policy Effective Date: 6/30/21
Initiated: 7/1/15
HPHC Medical Policy Public Domain Page 6 of 6
Invasive Treatment for Urinary Incontinence VA30JUN21P
HPHC policies are based on medical science, and written to apply to the majority of people with a given condition. Individual members’ unique
clinical circumstances, and capabilities of the local delivery system are considered when making individual UM determinations.
Coverage described in this policy is standard under most HPHC plans. Specific benefits may vary by product and/or employer group. Please
reference appropriate member materials (e.g. Benefit Handbook, Certificate of Coverage) for member-specific benefit information.You can also read
