Where this LCD applies
Each contract number is a jurisdiction on the remittance; the policy binds claims processed under these contracts and no others.
Billing and coding: diagnoses and procedure codes
Since 2019 the codes live in the companion article rather than the LCD. Billing and Coding A56914 (Billing and Coding: Treatment of Varicose Veins of the Lower Extremities) carries the diagnosis and procedure lists the contractor loads as the claims edit. CPT codes are shown as bare numbers because the descriptors are licensed by the AMA; HCPCS Level II descriptors are public and shown.
A56914: Billing and Coding: Treatment of Varicose Veins of the Lower Extremities (Billing and Coding, effective 2026-01-01)
- Covered ICD-10-CM codes
- 56
- 3 groups
- Non-covered ICD-10-CM codes
- 1
- Procedure codes listed
- 26
- Full article
- cms.gov record
| ICD-10-CM | Description (FY2027) |
|---|---|
| I78.8 | — |
| I80.01 | — |
| I80.02 | — |
| I80.03 | — |
| I83.011 | — |
| I83.012 | — |
| I83.013 | — |
| I83.014 | — |
| I83.015 | — |
| I83.018 | — |
| I83.021 | — |
| I83.022 | — |
| I83.023 | — |
| I83.024 | — |
| I83.025 | — |
| I83.028 | — |
| I83.11 | — |
| I83.12 | — |
| I83.211 | — |
| I83.212 | — |
| I83.213 | — |
| I83.214 | — |
| I83.215 | — |
| I83.221 | — |
Procedure codes: 36465, 36466, 36468, 36470, 36471, 36473, 36474, 36475, 36476, 36478, 36479, 36482, 36483, 37700, 37718, 37722, 37735, 37760, 37761, 37765, 37766, 37780, 37785, 37799, 93970, 93971.
Coverage indications, limitations and medical necessity
Historically, varicose veins have been treated by conservative measures such as exercise, periodic leg elevation, weight loss, compressive therapy, and avoidance of prolonged immobility. When conservative measures are unsuccessful, and symptoms persist, the next step has been sclerotherapy or surgical ligation with or without stripping. Sclerotherapy involves the injection of a sclerosing solution into the varicose vein(s).
More recently, endoluminal radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) and endoluminal laser ablation have been developed as alternatives to sclerotherapy and surgical intervention. These procedures are designed to damage the intimal wall of the vein resulting in fibrosis and subsequent ablation of the lumen of a segment of the vessel. Both procedures utilize specially designed catheters inserted through a small incision in the distal thigh and advanced, often under ultrasound guidance, nearly to the saphenofemoral junction. The catheter is then slowly withdrawn while controlled radiofrequency or laser energy is applied. This is followed by external compression of the treated segment.
Doppler ultrasound or duplex studies are often used to map the anatomy of the venous system prior to the procedure. There is adequate evidence that pre-procedural ultrasound is helpful, and Medicare will cover 1 ultrasound or duplex scan prior to the procedure to determine the extent and configuration of the varicosities when it is medically necessary.
Evidence and clinical experience support the use of ultrasound guidance during the procedure and show that the outcomes may be improved and complication rates may be minimized when ultrasound guidance is used. The CPT codes for radiofrequency and laser include the intra-operative ultrasound service in the evaluation, and ultrasound may not be billed separately with these procedures.
A duplex ultrasound examination is considered medically necessary and will be allowed when performed within 1 week (preferably within 72 hours) of EFRA to check for any evidence of thrombus extension from the saphenofemoral junction into the deep system.
• Indications for surgical treatment and sclerotherapy:
• A 3-month trial of conservative therapy such as exercise, periodic leg elevation, weight loss, graduated compressive therapy, and avoidance of prolonged immobility where appropriate, has failed, AND
• The patient is symptomatic and has 1, or more, of the following:
• Pain, aching, cramping, burning, itching and/or swelling during activity or after prolonged standing severe enough to impair mobility
• Recurrent episodes of superficial phlebitis
• Non-healing skin ulceration
• Bleeding from a varicosity
• Stasis dermatitis
• Refractory dependent edema
• The treatment of spider veins/telangiectasis will be considered medically necessary only if there is associated hemorrhage.
• Indications for ERFA or laser ablation:
In addition to the above (see A), the patient's anatomy and clinical condition are amenable to the proposed treatment including ALL of the following:
• Absence of aneurysm in the target segment.
• Maximum vein diameter of 20 mm for ERFA or 30 mm for laser ablation.
• Absence of thrombosis or vein tortuosity, which would impair catheter advancement.
• The absence of significant peripheral arterial diseases.
• Limitations for ERFA and laser ablation:
• ERFA and laser ablation are covered only for the treatment of symptomatic varicosities of the lesser or greater saphenous veins and their tributaries which have failed 3 months of conservative therapy.
• Intra-operative ultrasound guidance is not separately payable with ERFA, laser ablation.
• The treatment of asymptomatic varicose veins, or symptomatic varicose veins without a 3-month trial of conservative measures, by any technique, will be considered cosmetic and therefore not covered.
• The treatment of spider veins or superficial telangiectasis by any technique is also considered cosmetic, and therefore not covered unless there is associated bleeding.
• Coverage is only for devices specifically FDA-approved for these procedures.
• One pre-operative Doppler ultrasound study or duplex scan will be covered.
• Post –procedure Doppler ultrasound studies will be allowed if medically necessary.
The stab phlebectomy of the same vein performed on the same day as endovenous radiofrequency or laser ablation may be covered if the criteria for reasonable and necessary as described in this LCD are met.
If sclerotherapy is used with endovenous ablation, it may be covered if the criteria for reasonable and necessary as described in this LCD are met.
The treatment of asymptomatic veins with endoluminal ablation or sclerotherapy is not considered medically reasonable and necessary. If it is determined on review that the varicose veins were asymptomatic, the claim will be denied as a noncovered (cosmetic) procedure.
Summary of evidence (opening)
N/A
the full summary and analysis of evidence are in the CMS record.
Dates, lineage and related policies
- Original determination effective
- 2015-10-01
- Current revision effective
- 2025-08-28
- Last reviewed by the contractor
- 2025-07-17
- MCD version
- 36
- Derived from
- L30143
Using this policy on a claim
Match the documented indication to the covered indications above before the service is scheduled, carry a diagnosis from the article's covered list on the claim line, and keep the elements the documentation section asks for in the record, because the contractor can request it later through medical review. A denial under this policy arrives as CARC 50 with remark N115; the LCD lookup guide walks through the appeal path and the Advance Beneficiary Notice rules, and the Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation hub lists every other active policy from the same contractor.
The same policy title at other contractors
Contractors often adopt each other's policies and then revise them separately, so the criteria and the diagnosis lists drift apart. The topic comparison lines up every version.
Frequently asked questions
What does LCD L34536 cover?
Historically, varicose veins have been treated by conservative measures such as exercise, periodic leg elevation, weight loss, compressive therapy, and avoidance of prolonged immobility. When conservative measures are unsuccessful, and symptoms persist, the next step has been sclerotherapy or surgical ligation with or without stripping. Sclerotherapy involves the injection of a sclerosing solution into the varicose… The full indications and limitations are reproduced on this page from the CMS Medicare Coverage Database export of September 24, 2026.
Which states does LCD L34536 apply to?
Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation applies it to Medicare claims in AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY. A Local Coverage Determination binds only the contractor that wrote it; the same service in another jurisdiction is judged under that contractor's own policy or, where none exists, claim by claim.
Which diagnosis codes support medical necessity under LCD L34536?
The companion billing and coding article A56914 lists 56 ICD-10-CM codes in 3 groups that support medical necessity and 1 that do not; the first 24 appear on this page and the complete list is in the article on cms.gov.
How do I appeal a denial under LCD L34536?
The remittance carries claim adjustment reason code 50 with remark code N115, naming the LCD. Compare the documented indication with the policy's covered indications and the article's diagnosis list, then file a redetermination within 120 days with the record attached; if the service genuinely falls outside the policy, the patient can be billed only when a valid Advance Beneficiary Notice was obtained before the service.
Sources
Every figure on this page is taken from the CMS publications below, as released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Projection built 2026-10-02. Verify against the primary file before billing or contracting decisions.
- Medicare Coverage Database, current LCD exportVersion MCD release 2026-09-24 · effective 2026-09-20 · file lcd.csvSHA-256 2fcc4251b6ddd1eb…
- Medicare Coverage Database, current Billing and Coding Articles exportVersion MCD release 2026-09-24 · effective 2026-09-20 · file article.csvSHA-256 f31932f1df3b4035…
- ICD-10-CM FY2027 code descriptionsVersion FY2027 · effective 2026-10-01 · file icd10cm_codes_2027.txtSHA-256 3c0583a38ee0e848…
Disclaimer
The policy text and code lists are reproduced from the CMS Medicare Coverage Database export as an operational reference. Verify against the current LCD and article on cms.gov before billing; coverage depends on the full record and the contractor. Not legal, clinical or billing advice.