Heating Devices

Aetna covers electric heating pads as DME for relief of pain, stiffness, muscle spasm and related indications, passive hot‑and‑cold therapy per CPB 0297, and portable paraffin baths after a successful trial when long‑term benefit is expected. It excludes institutional equipment and non‑DME items (hydrocollator/hot packs, microwave/short‑wave diathermy, ultrasound, heat/massage foam cushions, hot water bottles, portable room heaters), considers heat lamps unproven, limits coverage generally to one heating device per condition, and does not consider heating pads proven for peripheral neuropathy pain.

"For portable paraffin baths: documentation of a successful trial period of paraffin therapy and documentation that the member's condition is expected to be relieved by long-term use of the modality..."

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