National Coverage Determination (NCD)

Treatment of Motor Function Disorders with Electric Nerve Stimulation

35-20

Expand All | Collapse All

Tracking Information

Publication Number
6
Manual Section Number
35-20
Manual Section Title
Treatment of Motor Function Disorders with Electric Nerve Stimulation
Version Number
1
Effective Date of this Version
04/15/1997
Ending Effective Date of this Version
04/01/2003

Description Information

Benefit Category
Physicians' Services


Please Note: This may not be an exhaustive list of all applicable Medicare benefit categories for this item or service.

Item/Service Description

While electric nerve stimulation has been employed to control chronic intractable pain for some time, its use in the treatment of motor function disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, is a recent innovation, and the medical effectiveness of such therapy has not been verified by scientifically controlled studies.

Indications and Limitations of Coverage

Where electric nerve stimulation is employed to treat motor function disorders, no reimbursement may be made for the stimulator or for the services related to its implantation since this treatment cannot be considered reasonable and necessary.

Note: Medicare coverage of deep brain stimulation by implantation of a stimulator device is not prohibited. Therefore, coverage of deep brain stimulation provided by an implanted deep brain stimulator is at the carrier's discretion.

Cross Reference
See NCD on Electrical Nerve Stimulators (§160.7).

Transmittal Information

Transmittal Number
93
Revision History

03/1997 - Reflected that instruction related to electrical nerve stimulation does not apply to deep brain stimulation provided by an implanted stimulator device and is subject to Medicare coverage at carrier's discretion. Effective date 04/15/1997. (TN 93)  

Additional Information

Other Versions
Title Version Effective Between
Treatment of Motor Function Disorders with Electric Nerve Stimulation 2 04/01/2003 - N/A View
Treatment of Motor Function Disorders with Electric Nerve Stimulation 1 04/15/1997 - 04/01/2003 You are here