Thermal Intradiscal Procedures (TIPs)

Medicare's NCD324 states that thermal intradiscal procedures (TIPs) that use radiofrequency or electrothermal energy to apply heat or disruption within the disc are not reasonable and necessary and are noncovered for treatment of low back pain for services on or after 2008-09-29. Percutaneous decompression/nucleoplasty procedures that do not use RF/electrothermal energy are outside the scope of this NCD; no specific documentation or frequency limits are provided in the decision.

"No nationally covered indications: Thermal intradiscal procedures (TIPs) are not covered for the treatment of low back pain."

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