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Clarification of Direct and Indirect Pulp Caps Procedure Codes D3110 and D3120 for Texas Health Steps and CSHCN Dental Services

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Note: Texas Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) must provide all medically necessary, Medicaid-covered services to eligible clients. Administrative procedures such as prior authorization, pre-certification, referrals, and claims/encounter data filing may differ from traditional Medicaid (fee-for-service) and from MCO to MCO. Providers should contact the client's specific MCO for details.

Effective for dates of service on or after February 1, 2021, direct and indirect pulp caps procedure codes D3110 and D3120 will be clarified for Texas Health Steps and Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Services Program dental services.

Direct pulp caps (procedure code D3110) and indirect pulp caps (procedure code D3120) are a benefit for permanent teeth only for tooth identification (TID) 1-32.

Procedure code D3110 may be reimbursed for the same tooth ID, on the same date of service, by the same provider, when billed with amalgam or resin restorations; inlay/onlay restorations; or preformed or laboratory processed crowns for the following procedure codes:

Procedure Codes
D2140 D2150 D2160 D2161 D2330 D2331
D2332 D2335 D2390 D2391 D2392 D2393
D2394 D2510 D2520 D2530 D2542 D2543
D2544 D2650 D2651 D2652 D2662 D2663
D2664 D2710 D2720 D2721 D2722 D2740
D2750 D2751 D2752 D2780 D2781 D2782
D2783 D2790 D2791 D2792 D2794 D2931
D2932          

Indirect pulp caps (procedure code D3120) may be reimbursed when billed with protective restoration procedure code D2940 for the same TID, on the same date of service, by the same provider. 

Any indirect pulp caps placed with routine restorations are considered inclusive of the final restoration and are not separately reimbursable.

The following statement has been removed from the Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual, Children’s Services Handbook, section 4.2.3.9 “Therapeutic Services”:

All fees for tooth restorations include local anesthesia and pulp protective media, when indicated, without additional charges. These services are considered part of the restoration.

For more information, call the TMHP Contact Center at 800-925-9126 or the TMHP-CSHCN Services Program Contact Center at 800-568-2413.