Salivary Testing

NAS has recently noted that home salivary testing is being marketed to health care providers and patients for the diagnosis and monitoring of menopause, diseases related to aging and certain other indications. NAS considers:

1. Salivary tests of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, melatonin or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) experimental and investigational. This includes screening, diagnosis or monitoring of menopause or diseases related to aging or any other indications. These tests have not been proven to be valid alternatives to serum tests.
2. Salivary tests of cortisol experimental and investigational for the screening, diagnosis, monitoring of menopause or diseases related to aging or any other indications except for Cushing’s syndrome.
3. Late night salivary cortisol testing as medically necessary solely for diagnosing Cushing’s syndrome and medical necessity must be supported in the medical records.

As a reminder, laboratory tests are not covered unless they are ordered by a physician or other qualified health professional and valid signature requirements must be met.

Source: https://www.noridianmedicare.com/cgi-bin/coranto/viewnews.cgi?id=EkVFZFAuVZVVJtUpjF&tmpl=part_b_viewnews&style=part_ab_viewnews