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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 state that peripheral nerve blocks will be considered medically reasonable and necessary for 
conditions such as the following diagnostic and therapeutic purposes: 
1. When the patients pain appears to be due to a classic mononeuritis but the neuro-diagnostic studies have 
failed to provide a structural explanation, selective peripheral nerve blockade can usually clarify the situation. 
2. When peripheral nerve injuries/entrapment or other extremity trauma leads to complex regional pain 
syndrome. 
3. When selective peripheral nerve blockade is used diagnostically in those cases in which the clinical picture is 
unclear. 
4. When an occipital nerve block is used to confirm the clinical impression of the presence of occipital 
neuralgia. Chronic headache/occipital neuralgia can result from chronic spasm of the neck muscles as the result 
of either myofascial syndrome or underlying cervical spinal disease. It may be unilateral or bilateral, constant 
or intermittent. Nerve injury secondary to a blow to the back of the head or trauma to the nerve from a scalp 
laceration can also cause this condition. Most commonly it is caused by an entrapment of the occipital nerve in 
its course from its origin from the C2 nerve root to its entrance into the scalp through the mid portion of the 
superior nuchal line. Blockage of the occipital nerve can confirm the clinical impression of occipital neuralgia 
particularly if the clinical picture is not entirely typical. If only temporary relief of symptoms is obtained, 
neurolysis of the greater occipital nerve may be considered via multiple techniques including radiofrequency 
and cryoanalgesia. In addition, the lesser and third occipital nerves can be involved in the pathology of 
headaches, and can be treated in a similar manner. 
5. When the suprascapular nerve block is used to confirm the diagnosis of suspected entrapment of the nerve. 
Entrapment of the suprascapular nerve as it passes through the suprascapular notch can produce a syndrome of 
pain within the shoulder with weakness of supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. When the history and 
examination point to the diagnosis, a suprascapular nerve block leading to relief of pain can confirm it. This 
may be followed by injection of depository steroids that sometime provide lasting relief. 
6. When the trigeminal nerve is blocked centrally at the trigeminal ganglion, along one of the three divisions or 
at one of the many peripheral terminal branches (i.e., supraorbital nerve). 
7. Nerve blocks as preemptive analgesia 
A. When a single injection peripheral nerve block provides post-surgical pain control 
1. during the transition to oral analgesics 2. in those procedures which cause severe pain normally uncontrolled by oral analgesics 
3. in cases otherwise requiring control with intravenous or parenteral narcotics. 
4. in cases where the patient cannot tolerate treatment with narcotics due to allergy or side effects, etc. 
B. When a continuous peripheral nerve block provides the same as above, and furthermore may provide 
extended relief as a result of chronic administration of anesthetic 
 
More than two anatomic sites injected at any one session will be denied.  If the patient does not achieve 
progressively sustained relief after receiving two to three repeat peripheral nerve block injections on the same 
anatomical site, then alternative therapeutic options should be explored. 
 
You can find this information in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Peripheral Nerve Blocks (L33933). 
 
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com. 
 
The Plan contract says that the Plan covers items and services in accordance with Medicare rules.