Magnetic Resonance Image Guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) for Tremor

MRgFUS unilateral thalamotomy is covered for medication-refractory Essential Tremor and for tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease that meet specific clinical score thresholds (CRST and UPDRS) and when patients are not candidates for DBS. Bilateral thalamotomy for ET is allowed only as a staged procedure with a minimum 9-month interval; multiple neurodegenerative diseases, certain medical comorbidities (untreated coagulopathy, unstable cardiac disease, seizure/brain tumor history), prior relevant brain procedures, pregnancy, and other listed exclusions are not covered. Documentation of medication trials, CRST and UPDRS/MDS-UPDRS scores, reason for ineligibility for DBS/RF, skull density/MRI compatibility, and pregnancy status is required for claims review.

"MRgFUS unilateral thalamotomy is covered for Essential Tremor (ET) that is medication-refractory (failure of at least two trials of medical therapy including at least one first-line agent), with mo..."