Infusion Pumps
NCD223
Medicare covers external and implantable infusion pumps for specific indications: external pumps for deferoxamine (iron poisoning), institutional heparin administration, certain liver and colorectal chemotherapy, and morphine for intractable cancer pain; CSII pumps are covered for selected insulinopenic diabetic patients who meet detailed clinical, testing, and education criteria. Implantable pumps are covered for intra-arterial 5-FUdR for specified liver-limited cancers, intrathecal anti-spasmodics after documented trial and response, and intrathecal/epidural opioids after temporary catheter trial and with life expectancy >=3 months; several other uses require MAC verification or trial-based coverage, while select uses (vancomycin external pumps, implantable heparin pumps, implantable insulin pumps) are explicitly non-covered. Documentation requirements include fasting C‑peptide with concurrent fasting glucose, documented glucose self-testing frequency, diabetes education and MDI history, trial documentation for intrathecal therapies, periodic physician follow-up (>= every 3 months for CSII), and MAC/FDA verification when applicable.