CMS Thoracic Duct Drainage (TDD) in Renal Transplants Form

Effective Date

01/01/2066

Last Reviewed

NA

Original Document

  Reference



Background for this Policy

Thoracic Duct Drainage (TDD) is an immunosuppressive technique used in renal transplantation. This procedure, which removes lymph from kidney transplant recipients as a means of achieving suppression of the immune mechanism, is currently being used both pre-transplant and post-transplant in conjunction with more conventional immunotherapy.

TDD is performed on an inpatient basis, and the inpatient stay is covered for patients admitted for treatment in advance of a kidney transplant as well as for those receiving it post-transplant.  TDD is a covered technique when furnished to a kidney transplant recipient or an individual approved to receive kidney transplantation in a hospital approved to perform kidney transplantation.