Technology Assessment

Biofeedback in the Treatment of Urinary Incontinence in Adults

2000

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Issue

Biofeedback is defined as a therapy that uses electronic or mechanical instruments to relay visual and/or auditory evidence to assist a person to gain pelvic muscle awareness to improve physiologic activity and bladder function.

Currently, §35-27 of the Coverage Issues Manual states that biofeedback is covered under Medicare only when it is reasonable and necessary for the individual patient for muscle re-education of specific muscle groups or for treating pathological muscle abnormalities of spasticity, incapacitating muscle spasm, or weakness, and more conventional treatments have not been successful. Therefore, coverage of biofeedback for the treatment of urinary incontinence is determined at the carrier level. HCFA will evaluate whether the current literature supports a national position on the use of biofeedback for the treatment of urinary incontinence.

Technology Assessment

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