Electrical Stimulation for Pain

TENS is covered as an adjunct/alternative to drugs for acute post‑operative pain within 30 days of surgery and for selected chronic intractable pain unresponsive to other treatments with an initial physician‑monitored trial of 1–2 months; FDA‑approved, prescribed conductive garments are covered if specific clinical criteria are met, and PENS is covered up to 30 days for chronic low back pain secondary to degenerative disc disease as part of a multi‑modality rehabilitation program and for diabetic/neuropathic pain only after failure of ≥3 medication classes. TENS for most other acute (<3 months) and many chronic indications (e.g., headaches, fibromyalgia, broad chronic low back pain, various neuropathies, TMJ, rotator cuff, etc.) is experimental/investigational and not covered, and PENS beyond listed uses, peripherally implanted/other peripheral nerve stimulators, and H‑WAVE (except for chronic diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are considered investigational/uncovered.