Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

 
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 in contrast to endoluminal radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) and laser procedures, intra-
operative ultrasound guidance techniques have not been shown to increase the effectiveness or safety of 
sclerotherapy for varicose veins, therefore, intra-operative ultrasound guidance will not be separately covered 
for sclerotherapy. 
 
A. Indications for surgical treatment: For example venous ligation, vein stripping and/or sclerotherapy. 
 
1. A 3-month trial of conservative therapy such as exercise, periodic leg elevation, weight loss, compressive 
therapy, and avoidance of prolonged immobility where appropriate, has failed, AND 
 
2. The patient is symptomatic and has one, or more, of the following: 
a. Pain or burning in the extremity severe enough to impair mobility 
b. Recurrent episodes of superficial phlebitis 
c. Non-healing skin ulceration 
d. Bleeding from a varicosity 
e. Stasis dermatitis 
f. Refractory dependent edema 
 
B. Indications for ERFA or laser ablation 
 
In addition to the above (see A), the patient's anatomy and clinical condition are amenable to the proposed 
treatment including ALL of the following: 
 
1. Absence of aneurysm in the target segment. 
2. Maximum vein diameter of 12 mm for ERFA or 20 mm for laser ablation 
3. Absence of thrombosis or vein tortuosity, which would impair catheter advancement. 4. The absence of 
significant peripheral arterial diseases. 
 
C. Limitations for ERFA and laser ablation: 
1. ERFA and laser ablation are covered only for the treatment of symptomatic varicosities of the lesser or 
greater saphenous veins and their tributaries which have failed 3 months of conservative therapy. 
2. Intra-operative ultrasound guidance is not separately payable with ERFA, laser ablation, and sclerotherapy. 
3. The treatment of asymptomatic varicose veins, or symptomatic varicose veins without a 3-month trial of conservative measures, by any technique will be considered cosmetic and therefore not covered. 
4. The treatment of spider veins or superficial telangiectasis by any technique is considered cosmetic, and 
therefore not covered. 
5. Coverage is only for devices specifically FDA-approved for these procedures. 
6. One pre-operative Doppler ultrasound study or duplex scan will be covered. 
 
You can find this information in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) 
Treatment of Varicose Veins of the Lower Extremities 
 
L34010In contrast to ERFA and laser procedures, intra-operative ultrasound guidance techniques have not been 
shown to increase the effectiveness or safety of sclerotherapy for varicose veins, therefore, intra-operative 
ultrasound guidance will not be separately covered for sclerotherapy. 
 
A. Indications for surgical treatment: For example venous ligation, vein stripping and/or sclerotherapy. 
 
1. A 3-month trial of conservative therapy such as exercise, periodic leg elevation, weight loss, compressive 
therapy, and avoidance of prolonged immobility where appropriate, has failed, AND 
 
2. The patient is symptomatic and has one, or more, of the following: 
a. Pain or burning in the extremity severe enough to impair mobility 
b. Recurrent episodes of superficial phlebitis 
c. Non-healing skin ulceration 
d. Bleeding from a varicosity 
e. Stasis dermatitis 
f. Refractory dependent edema 
 
B. Indications for ERFA or laser ablation 
 
In addition to the above (see A), the patient's anatomy and clinical condition are amenable to the proposed 
treatment including ALL of the following: 
 
1. Absence of aneurysm in the target segment. 
2. Maximum vein diameter of 12 mm for ERFA or 20 mm for laser ablation 
3. Absence of thrombosis or vein tortuosity, which would impair catheter advancement. 4. The absence of 
significant peripheral arterial diseases. 
 
C. Limitations for ERFA and laser ablation: 
1. ERFA and laser ablation are covered only for the treatment of symptomatic varicosities of the lesser or 
greater saphenous veins and their tributaries which have failed 3 months of conservative therapy. 
2. Intra-operative ultrasound guidance is not separately payable with ERFA, laser ablation, and sclerotherapy. 
3. The treatment of asymptomatic varicose veins, or symptomatic varicose veins without a 3-month trial of 
conservative measures, by any technique will be considered cosmetic and therefore not covered. 
4. The treatment of spider veins or superficial telangiectasis by any technique is considered cosmetic, and 
therefore not covered. 
5. Coverage is only for devices specifically FDA-approved for these procedures. 
6. One pre-operative Doppler ultrasound study or duplex scan will be covered. 
 
You can find this information in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Treatment of Varicose Veins of the 
Lower Extremities L34010. 
 
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.