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The rules say that plans must pay for a medical service or item if regular Medicare would pay for it in this case. You can find this rule at 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 422.101. The rules say that prescriptions for Pneumatic Compression Devices (PCDs) (E0650, E0651, E0652, E0675, E0676) are limited to Physicians (MD, DO, DPM) and physician extenders (NP, PA, CNS) to the extent allowed by their applicable state scope-of-practice and other license requirements. Providers must use care because the treatment of lymphedema, chronic venous insufficiency with ulceration and complications related to the treatment of these conditions by use of PCDs, commonly require consideration of diagnoses and management of systemic conditions. In no event should a provider order PCDs or PCD appliances that are to be used for or are to be applied to areas of the body that fall outside of their state scope of practice and other license limitations. Lymphedema, as discussed below, is just one group of conditions that can be a cause of accumulation of fluid in the tissue. Lymphedema arises from disorders of the lymphatic system. It is essential to rule out other causes of edema in order to diagnose lymphedema. Edema from other causes is not classified as lymphedema for purposes of Medicare reimbursement for PCDs (E0650, E0651, E0652). PCDs coded as E0650, E0651, E0652 are used only in the treatment of lymphedema or for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency with venous stasis ulcers. Reimbursement for these items is based upon the criteria in the following sections. PCD coded as E0675 is used in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease. Claims for E0675 will be denied as not reasonable and necessary as outlined below. A PCD coded as E0650 or E0651 is covered for both primary and secondary lymphedema in beneficiaries with chronic and severe lymphedema when all of the following three requirements are met: 1. The beneficiary has a diagnosis of lymphedema as defined above, and 2. The beneficiary has persistence of chronic and severe lymphedema as identified by the documented presence of at least one of the following clinical findings: Marked hyperkeratosis with hyperplasia and hyperpigmentation, Papillomatosis cutis lymphostatica, Deformity of elephantiasis, Skin breakdown with persisting lymphorrhea, Detailed measurements over time confirming the persistence of the lymphedema with a history evidencing a likely etiology, and 3. In addition to this documented persistence, the lymphedema is then documented to be unresponsive to other clinical treatment over the course of a required four-week trial. (See below for trial guidelines.) A PCD coded as E0652 is not covered for the treatment of lymphedema of the extremities alone even if the criteria in this section are met. Claims will be denied as not reasonable and necessary. Refer below to the sections III - LYMPHEDEMA EXTENDING ONTO THE CHEST, TRUNK AND/OR ABDOMEN and PCD Code Selection for additional information about the limited coverage for PCD coded as E0652. You can find this information in Medicare's Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Pneumatic Compression Devices (L33829).