Medicare recently issued a National Coverage Determination (NCD) regarding the issue of radiofrequency procedures for treatment of low back pain.  This determination specifically addresses the fact that they will no longer provide coverage for percutaneous thermal intradiscal procedures (TIP) that are performed within the disc itself, such as IDET.   CMS concluded that the evidence they compiled regarding use of these procedures does not demonstrate that TIPs improve health outcomes. When a TIP procedure is discussed in the records you're reviewing in preparation of a Medicare Set-Aside allocation,   it is important to keep in mind the distinction between TIP procedures that are used to destroy the nerves and those that are performed within the discs themselves.  Click here for more information. 

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