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$7.95 		Advances in Skin & Wound Care: The Journal for Prevention and Healing
October 2002 
Volume 15  Number 5
Pages 200 - 208
 
  PDF Version Available!

ABSTRACT
Outline

  • BREAKING NEWS

  • PRODUCTS

  • GUIDELINES

  • SURVEY

    • BREAKING NEWS

    The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced its approval of coverage for electrical stimulation for chronic, nonhealing wounds , including chronic Stage III and Stage IV pressure ulcers, arterial ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and venous stasis ulcers. Chronic ulcers are defined as ulcers that have not healed within 30 days of occurrence.

    The announcement is the culmination of work that began when CMS (then called the Health Care Financing Administration) issued its noncoverage decision in April 1997. A lawsuit was subsequently filed by the American Physical Therapy Association and 5 plaintiffs in July 1997. The lawsuit resulted in an injunction to stop the noncoverage policy issued by CMS.

    CMS then called on the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee (MCAC) to review the issue and make a recommendation. Ultimately, the MCAC unanimously ruled that evidence was sufficient to support the coverage of electrical stimulation for treatment for chronic, nonhealing wounds.

    While the issue was being reviewed by the MCAC and CMS, electrical stimulation treatment for chronic, nonhealing wounds was covered at the discretion of local Medicare carriers. Under the new policy, all Medicare beneficiaries will be able to receive this coverage. However, the use of electrical stimulation for the treatment of wounds will not be covered as an initial treatment modality. It will be covered as adjunctive therapy only after there are no measurable signs of healing for at least 30 days of treatment with standard wound therapy, and it must be used in addition to standard wound care. For more information about the coverage decision, visit http://www.woundcarejournal.com.

    PRODUCTS

    AQUACEL Ag, a unique antimicrobial wound dressing manufactured and marketed by ConvaTec, a Bristol-Myers ...

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