US revisits spinal injury coverage decision:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided to reopen the issue of whether Medicare should cover neuromuscular electrical stimulation for spinal cord injury. The agency decided in 1984 and again in 1991 not to cover the treatment when used to treat the atrophy that occurs as a result of a spinal cord injury. But new clinical evidence has recently appeared, suggesting the treatment may help patients stand and walk. The issue warrants taking another look, CMS said last week.