Local Coverage Determination · DME MAC
L33802
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS)
Version 35. CMS effective date 01/01/2024. CMS updated 12/07/2023. Read from the CMS Coverage API on 2026-10-13. Contractors on the report: CGS Administrators (DME MAC) and Noridian Healthcare Solutions (DME MAC).
CMS coverage policy citation. CMS Manual System, Pub. 100-03, Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual, Chapter 1, Section 10.2, 160.7.1, 160.13, 160.27, 280.13
Coverage indication
In addition to the “reasonable and necessary” criteria contained in this LCD there are other payment rules, which are discussed in the following documents, that must also be met prior to Medicare reimbursement: The LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section. The LCD-related Policy Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section. Refer to the Supplier Manual for additional information on documentation requirements. Refer to the DME MAC web sites for additional bulletin articles and other publications related to this LCD. For the items addressed in this LCD, the “reasonable and necessary” criteria, based on Social Security Act § 1862(a)(1)(A) provisions, are defined by the following coverage indications, limitations and/or medical necessity. The practitioner ordering the Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS) unit and related supplies must be the treating practitioner for the disease or condition justifying the need for the TENS unit. A TENS is covered for the treatment of beneficiaries with chronic, intractable pain or acute post-operative pain when one of the following coverage criteria, I or II, are met. Acute Post-operative Pain TENS is covered for acute post-operative pain. Coverage is limited to 30 days (one month's rental) from the day of surgery. Payment will be made only as a rental.
Excerpt from the LCD indication. Full text on CMS.
Documentation requirements
Items covered in this LCD have additional policy-specific requirements that must be met prior to Medicare reimbursement. Refer to the LCD-related Policy article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section for additional information.
Related articles
- A55426 · Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACs
- A52520 · Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS) - Policy Article
Related NCDs
- NCD 10.2 · Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Acute Post-Operative Pain (version 2)
- NCD 160.7.1 · Assessing Patient's Suitability for Electrical Nerve Stimulation Therapy (version 2)
- NCD 160.13 · Supplies Used in the Delivery of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) (version 1)
- NCD 160.27 · Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) (version 1)
- NCD 280.13 · Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS) - RETIRED (version 3)
HCPCS codes on this LCD
2 other Level II codes are on the LCD and are not given a page in this set: E0730, A4595.
Questions
What does LCD L33802 cover?
L33802 is Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS). It is a current final DME MAC local coverage determination, version 35.
Where is the CMS source for L33802?
The Medicare Coverage Database page for LCD L33802 version 35.
Get the signed answer via API
The signed answer is the receipt for this code on a date of service: the rule that was in force, with a hash you can replay. The call needs an API key. The source archive and as-of resolution are public.
curl -H "X-API-Key: $VERZI_API_KEY" \
"https://api.verzi.health/v1/rules/warrant?hcpcs=E0720&as_of=2024-01-15&npi=1234567890&state=UT"