Nerve Blockade for Treatment of Chronic Pain and Neuropathy

Nerve blockade is covered for diagnostic and therapeutic management of chronic pain (pain persisting >=3 months despite therapy) and for pain syndromes responsive to peripheral/somatic nerve blocks, using appropriate imaging guidance for somatic procedures. Coverage requires documented pre-procedure evaluation, appropriate provider credentialing and training, and multidisciplinary referral when injections fail; nerve blocks and electrostimulation are not covered for metabolic peripheral neuropathy or for systemic-multifocal neuropathies. Epidural blocks are excluded from this LCD and are addressed in a separate policy (L39242/A5899).

"Nerve blockade is indicated for chronic pain, defined as pain present continuously or intermittently for >=3 months despite therapy."

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