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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 medically necessary services are those that are reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or 
treatment of an illness or injury. Medically necessary services include services to improve the functioning of a 
malformed body member. You can find this rule in the Social Security Act, Section 1862(a)(1)(A). 
 
The rules say that services that are not medically necessary are not covered. The rules also say that 
experimental and investigational devices are not covered. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Sections 411.15 and 
411.15(o). 
 
A PCD coded as E0652, is covered for the treatment of lymphedema extending onto the chest, trunk and/or 
abdomen when all of the following are met: 
     The beneficiary has lymphedema of an extremity as defined above 
     The coverage criteria for an E0650 or E0651 are met  
     The beneficiary has lymphedema extending onto the chest, trunk and/or abdomen that extends past the 
limits of a standard compression sleeve, and the chest, trunk and/or abdominal lymphedema has failed to 
improve with a four-week trial. (See below for trial guidelines.) 
 
A PCD coded as E0652 used to treat lymphedema extending onto the chest, trunk and/or abdomen that does not 
meet all of the requirements above is not eligible for reimbursement. Claims will be denied as not reasonable 
and necessary. 
 
A four-week trial of conservative therapy demonstrating failed response to treatment with and E0650 or E0651 
is required. The four-week trial of conservative therapy must include all of the following: 
 At least four weeks of regular, daily, multiple-hour home usage of the E0650 or E0651 after careful, in-
person fitting, training and supervision by a technician who is skilled in and who regularly and 
successfully uses the appliance provided. 
 Compliant use of an appropriate compression bandage system or compression garment to provide 
adequate graduated compression.  
o Adequate compression is defined as (1) sufficient pressure at the lowest pressure point to cause 
fluid movement and (2) sufficient pressure across the gradient (from highest to lowest pressure point) to move fluid from distal to proximal. The compression used must not create a tourniquet 
effect at any point. 
o The garment may be prefabricated or custom-fabricated but must provide adequate graduated 
compression starting with a minimum of 30 mmHg distally. 
 Regular exercise 
 Elevation where appropriate 
 Manual lymphatic drainage (where available) and self-manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) for at least 30 
minutes per day 
 Evaluation of diet and implementation of any necessary change 
 Medications as appropriate (e.g. diuretics and/or other treatment of congestive failure, etc.) 
 Correction (where possible) of anemia and/or hypoproteinemia 
 
You can find this information in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Pneumatic Compression Devices 
(L33829). 
 
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.