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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: 
 
History/Background and/or General Information 
 
Low back pain is highly prevalent, with reports of 50-84% of adults experiencing back pain at some point, with 
a high prevalence in adults 65 and older and the highest cause of disability globally. Low back and neck pain 
can influence the quality of life and function, and is associated with depression and anxiety.1,2 In a 2018 
National Health Interview Survey, the CDC reported 28% of men and 31.6% of women age = 18 had lower 
back pain in the past three months.3 There is debate and a lack of consensus on which modalities are best to 
treat chronic low back pain (CLBP). 
 
The epidural space lies outside the dural membrane inside the spinal canal. It runs the length of the spine and, 
in addition to the exiting nerve roots, contains fatty tissue and blood vessels. The spinal nerve roots can be 
affected by a number of processes as they travel through the epidural space, including but not limited to 
compression from herniation of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral discs, degenerative changes 
involving combinations of the spinal ligaments, discs, zygapophyseal (facet) joints, intraspinal synovial cysts, 
osteophytes, and mechanical derangements of the spine such as spondylolisthesis. As a result of mechanical 
irritation, inflammation, injury to a spinal nerve root or other processes, the spinal nerve roots can become a 
significant and disabling source of radicular pain1 epidural steroid injections (ESIs) have been used as a non-
surgical modality to treat low back and neck pain. These procedures typically involve the injection of a solution 
containing corticosteroids and/or anesthetic into the epidural space, although saline may be included at times. 
 
The ESI can be performed in three ways. Interlaminar (IESI) approaches the epidural space from the posterior 
spine between the two vertebral laminae near the midline. In the transforaminal approach (TFESI), the injectant 
is delivered through the neuroforamen dorsal to the nerve root within the intervertebral foramen. The caudal 
approach (CESI) enters through the sacral hiatus at the sacral canal to access the epidural space. 
 
The treatment of individuals with spinal disorders, including pain, can be complex, and it is recommended that 
all individuals being considered for interventional spinal procedures undergo a thorough evaluation and be 
treated following development of a comprehensive care plan. 
 
 
 Covered Indications 
 
1. Epidural steroid injection (ESI) will be considered medically reasonable and necessary when the following 
three (3) requirements are met: 
 
History, physical examination, and concordant radiological image-based diagnostic testing supporting one of 
the following: 
 
Lumbar, cervical or thoracic radiculopathy, radicular pain and/or neurogenic claudication due to disc 
herniation, osteophyte or osteophyte complexes, severe degenerative disc disease, producing foraminal or 
central spinal stenosis5; OR post-laminectomy syndrome; OR Acute herpes zoster associated pain. 
 
AND 
 
Radiculopathy, radicular pain and/or neurogenic claudication is severe enough to greatly impact quality of life 
or function. An objective pain scale or functional assessment must be performed at baseline (prior to 
interventions). The same scale* must be repeated at each follow-up for assessment of response.  
 
AND 
 
Pain duration of at least four (4) weeks, and the inability to tolerate noninvasive conservative care or medical 
documentation of failure to respond to four (4) weeks of noninvasive conservative care or acute herpes zoster 
refractory to conservative management where a four (4) week wait is not required. 
 
2. The ESIs must be performed under CT or fluoroscopy image guidance with contrast. Unless the patient has a 
documented contrast allergy or pregnancy where ultrasound guidance without contrast may be considered. 
 
3. Transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs) involving a maximum of two (2) levels in one spinal 
region are considered medically reasonable and necessary. It is important to recognize that most conditions 
would not ordinarily require ESI at two (2) levels in one spinal region.  
 
4. Caudal epidural steroid injections (CESIs) and interlaminar epidural steroid injections (ILESIs) involving a 
maximum of one level are considered medically reasonable and necessary.  
 
5. It is medically reasonable and necessary to perform TFESIs bilaterally only when clinically indicated. 
 
6. Repeat ESI when the first injection directly and significantly provided improvement of the condition being 
treated may be considered medically reasonable and necessary when the medical record documents at least 
50% of sustained improvement in pain relief and/or improvement in function measured from baseline using 
SAME scale* for at least three months,7,8 If a patient fails to respond well to the initial ESI, a repeat ESI after 
14 days can be performed, using a different approach, level and/or medication if appropriate, with the rationale 
and medical necessity for the second ESI documented in the medical record. 
 
7. An initial injection of contrast is required to confirm epidural placement, unless the patient has a 
contraindication to contrast. The subsequent epidural steroid injections should include corticosteroids and may 
be combined with anesthetics or saline. 
 
8. The ESIs should be performed in conjunction with conservative treatments. 
 
9. Patients should be part of an active rehabilitation program, home exercise program or functional restoration 
program. 
 Limitations 
 
1. Injections performed without image guidance or by ultrasound are not considered reasonable and necessary 
except in cases of documented contraindication to contrast media (e.g., allergy, pregnancy). 
 
2. ESIs performed with biologicals or other substances not FDA designated for this use is considered 
investigational and not medically reasonable and necessary. 
 
3. It is not considered medically reasonable and necessary to perform multiple blocks (ESI, sympathetic blocks, 
facet blocks, trigger point injections etc.) during the same session as ESIs, with the exception of a facet 
synovial cyst and ESI performed in the same session. 
 
4. Use of Moderate or Deep Sedation, General Anesthesia, and Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) is usually 
unnecessary or rarely indicated for these procedures and therefore not considered medically reasonable and 
necessary.16 Even in patients with a needle phobia and anxiety, typically oral anxiolytics suffice. In 
exceptional and unique cases, documentation must clearly establish the need for such sedation in the specific 
patient. 
 
5. ESIs to treat non-specific low back pain (LBP), axial spine pain, complex regional pain syndrome, 
widespread diffuse pain, pain from neuropathy from other causes, cervicogenic headaches are considered 
investigational and therefore are not considered medically reasonable and necessary. 
 
6. ESIs are limited to a maximum of four (4) sessions per spinal region in a rolling twelve (12) month period. 
 
7. It is not considered medically reasonable and necessary for more than one spinal region to be injected in the 
same session. 
 
8. It is not considered medically reasonable and necessary to perform TFESIs at more than two (2) nerve root 
levels during the same session. 
 
9. It is not considered medically reasonable and necessary to perform CESIs or ILESIs at more than one (1) 
level during the same session. 
 
10. It is not medically reasonable and necessary to perform CESIs or ILESIs bilaterally. 
 
11. It is not medically reasonable and necessary to prescribe a predetermined series of ESIs. 
 
12. Steroid dosing should be the lowest effective amount, it is recommended not to exceed 80 mg of 
triamcinolone, 12 mg of betamethasone, 15 mg of dexamethasone per session. 
 
13. It generally would not be considered medically reasonable and necessary for treatment with ESI to extend 
beyond 12 months. Frequent continuation of epidural steroid injections over 12 months may trigger a focused 
medical review. Use beyond twelve months requires the following: 
 
Pain is severe enough to cause a significant degree of functional disability or vocational disability. 
ESI provides at least 50% sustained improvement of pain and/or 50% objective improvement in function (using 
same scale as baseline). Rationale for the continuation of ESIs including but not limited to patient is high-risk 
surgical candidates, the patient does not desire surgery, recurrence of pain in the same location relieved with 
ESIs for at least three months. The primary care provider must be notified regarding continuation of procedures 
and prolonged repeat steroid use. 
 
14. ESIs should not be performed when contraindicated including but not limited to: suspected or active localized spinal infection, significant systemic infection, compressive lesions of the spinal cord, conus 
medullaris or cauda equina, suspicion or major risk factors for cancer. You can find this rule at Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services, Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L39015, Epidural Steroid Injections 
for Pain Management. 
 
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.