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Title: CRNP
Organization: The Spine Center
Date: 09/22/2011
Comment:
TENS unit are very beneficial for my patient's with myofascial pain. I noticed that patient's who use TENS units have a lower narcotic use as well. A few of my patient's that cannot afford the physical therapy copay like that they can use the TENS
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Title: DC
Date: 09/28/2011
Comment:
To whom it may concern. I am very concerned about the possibility of Medicare restricting the coverage of TENS for patients suffering with chronic low back pain. As a practicing physician I have seen the positive effects of this modality on
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Date: 09/14/2011
Comment:
I've used TENS units on patients in the 1980's and we had them set at low levels and monitered them. Well, they can be bought at any local event from vendors, sold as Dr. Pain or something like that. You can buy them online. Vendors sell them
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Title: owner
Organization: Allen Family Wellness Center
Date: 09/29/2011
Comment:
We have used TENS machines in our office for the past 8 years with great results. TENS machines are a wonderful alternative to addicting narcotics for pain management. The cost is reasonable and the benefits
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Date: 09/27/2011
Comment:
We have used TENS as a regular part of our patient's home therapy program for 10 years with great success. As TENS reduces pain, it not only helps the patient be more compliant with their excercises away from the clinic, it also reduces their use
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Organization: University of Maryland, School of Medicine
Date: 09/30/2011
Comment:
September 27, 2011
To Whom it May Concern:
CMS is considering revising Medicare coverage for TENS based on a Dubinsky RM, and Miyasaki J. article titled: “Assessment: Efficacy of Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation in the treatment of
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Title: Medical Director, Rehabilitation Programs
Date: 10/10/2011
Comment:
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve stimulation is a useful treatment for LBP. Many patients respond to this therapy and have improve pain, participation, return to work and improved quality of life. CMS should approve this useful
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Date: 10/10/2011
Comment:
I have been informed by my specialty society that CMS is considering noncoverage of TENS as a treatment for chronic low back pain. I would encourage CMS to continue coverage of TENS. I have found it to be a useful adjunctive treatment, especially
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Title: md
Organization: pain mgmt and rehab med ctr, pc
Date: 09/21/2011
Comment:
TENS unit, as a means for analgesia and functional improvement, has a substantial role in the management of chronic axial and radicular spine pain via neuromodulation and, based on my personal experience, is efficacious in at least 50% of the cases
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Organization: Start To Finsh Spine Care
Date: 10/05/2011
Comment:
back pain can be challenging to treat. in a time with increasing regulations on narcotics modalities such as TENS units should be welcomed as a treatment. TENS units are relatively safe and they have helped many of my patients recieve substantial
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Date: 09/26/2011
Comment:
Eliminating TENS, will leave our patients without a non-narcotic pain management option that is proven to be effective. Back pain is NOT the only painful condition associated with the use of a TENS unit. Sciatica, Foot and Leg pain, Hip pain, and
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Title: Manager Therapy
Organization: Holzer Medical Center
Date: 09/29/2011
Comment:
I am a manager of a hospital based therapy department.
I feel strongly that more clinical research should be done, but from a standpoint of patient use and report I would be losing a wonderful tool and service if I did not have the ability to
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Date: 09/29/2011
Comment:
I am a physical therapist who has been treating low back pain for 16 years. I have found TENS to be an effective pain control method for those with chronic low back pain. It offers a safe, drug free alternative method of pain control. The
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Date: 09/26/2011
Comment:
We fit many patients each week with these devices. We fit about 20 patients per week with TENS units. These are more than effective in managing Chronic pain conditions if the patient is correctly instructed on how to use the device and has a
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Title: Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehab
Organization: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Date: 10/11/2011
Comment:
I frequently prescribe TENS units for our patients with chronic low back pain. A large part of our practice consists of chronic pain management. I have found these devices to be a very effective adjuvant treatment modality, in addition to
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Date: 09/23/2011
Comment:
To Whom This May Concern:
The "Tens" unit is a daily part of physical therapy used in this household. Without help from Medicare the "Tens" unit would not be afforded here.
Thank you for allowing me to comment.
Len
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Date: 09/22/2011
Comment:
I work in a very busy pain management practice. We use TENS as an early option for individuals with chronic low back pain. This treatment does not help everyone, but certainly helps many individuals. The trial is essential to determine who will
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Title: Vice President
Organization: Patient's Choice
Date: 10/07/2011
Comment:
I have been in the Rehab industry for over 12 years. In that time, I have seen thousands of patients with chronic back pain receive pain reducing benefit from the use of TENS units. Like any medication or modality, it does not work 100% of the
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Date: 10/11/2011
Comment:
I have only been in the Rehab industry for a year or so, butin that time, I have seen the positive effects of TENS therapy in the lives ofpatients with chronic back pain.
One of my primary responsibilities is to be the primarycontact person at
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Date: 10/07/2011
Comment:
Coverage for Tens unit should be restricted. many of my patient have found they significantly reduce there pain especially when they are unable to tolerate medications. Physical therapy is not a life long option for anyone. Patients need to be able
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Title: EVP, Clinical Affairs and Strategic Planning
Organization: America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
Date: 10/12/2011
Comment:
October 12, 2011
Sarah Meisenberg, MSPH
Lead Analyst
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Mail Stop C1-09-06
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850
Dear Ms.
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Date: 09/26/2011
Comment:
[PHI Redacted] this is ridiculous to take away non-invasive, non-narcotic means of therapy when there are so many clinical studies that say it is effective. What is going to be left for my generation besides taking a pill, which
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Title: physician and Medical Director
Organization: Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation
Date: 10/11/2011
Comment:
In our rehabilitation practice we treat a number of chronic back pain patients. No treatment or modality works very well for chronic pain as the studies bear witness. When left with nothing that works reliably, you try one thing after another is
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Title: Physical Therapist
Organization: GWCH
Date: 09/29/2011
Comment:
I urge you not to discountinue giving benefits for TENS units for chronic back pain. I am a physical therapist who has used and given out many TENS units for chronic back pain. I have never had a patient that has not had at least some decrease in
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Date: 09/27/2011
Comment:
We have used TENS for over a decade for a conservative pain-management option for patients that don't want or cannot tolerate expensive and dangerous pain medications. Cancelling TENS is just putting more money in the coffers of the drug companies
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