CMSNational Coverage Determination (NCD)

Diathermy Treatment Form

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Diathermy Treatment

Notes: This NCD last reviewed June 2006.

Indications

(395386) Has the Medicare Administrative Contractor's medical staff determined that the pulsated wave diathermy apparatus used is therapeutically effective? 
(395387) Is the diathermy treatment medically indicated for the condition being treated? 

Contraindications

(395388) Is the diathermy treatment being administered by someone other than a physician or someone not incident to a physician's professional services? 
Effective Date

06/19/2006

Last Reviewed

NA

Original Document

  Reference



High energy pulsed wave diathermy machines have been found to produce some degree of therapeutic benefit for essentially the same conditions and to the same extent as standard diathermy. Accordingly, where the Medicare Administrative Contractor’s medical staff has determined that the pulsed wave diathermy apparatus used is one which is considered therapeutically effective, the treatments are considered a covered service, but only for those conditions for which standard diathermy is medically indicated and only when rendered by a physician or incident to a physician’s professional services.

(This NCD last reviewed June 2006.)

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