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 A57791 (Billing and Coding: Spinal Cord Stimulators for Chronic Pain) 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.
A57791: Billing and Coding: Spinal Cord Stimulators for Chronic Pain (Billing and Coding, effective 2025-10-16)
- Covered ICD-10-CM codes
- 268
- 1 group
- Non-covered ICD-10-CM codes
- 0
- Procedure codes listed
- 5
- Full article
- cms.gov record
| ICD-10-CM | Description (FY2027) |
|---|---|
| A18.01 | — |
| B02.23 | — |
| B02.29 | — |
| E08.41 | — |
| E09.41 | — |
| E10.41 | — |
| E10.42 | — |
| E11.41 | — |
| E11.42 | — |
| E13.41 | — |
| G54.6 | — |
| G54.8 | — |
| G57.70 | — |
| G57.71 | — |
| G57.72 | — |
| G57.73 | — |
| G58.8 | — |
| G58.9 | — |
| G59 | Mononeuropathy in diseases classified elsewhere |
| G89.0 | — |
| G89.21 | — |
| G89.22 | — |
| G89.3 | — |
| G89.4 | — |
Procedure codes: 63650, 63655, 63663, 63664, 63685.
Coverage indications, limitations and medical necessity
The implantation of spinal cord stimulators (SCS) may be covered as therapies for the relief of chronic intractable pain. SCS is best suited for neuropathic pain but may have some limited value in other types of nociceptive severe, intractable pain. Therapy consists of a short trial with a percutaneous implantation of neurostimulator electrode(s) in the epidural space for assessing a patient’s suitability for ongoing treatment with a permanent surgically implanted nerve stimulator. Performance and documentation of an effective trial is a prerequisite for permanent nerve stimulation. In situations where the spinal cord stimulator has been working well but is in need of replacement for battery change, malfunction or end of stimulator life, a new trial is not needed to replace the stimulator.
Selection of patients for implantation of spinal cord stimulators is critical to success of this therapy. SCS therapy should be considered as a late option after more conservative attempts such as medications, physical therapy, psychological therapy or other modalities have been tried.
Patients must have undergone careful screening, evaluation and diagnosis by a multidisciplinary team prior to implantation. (Such screening must include psychological, as well as physical evaluation). Documentation of the history and careful screening must be available in the patient chart if requested. Patients being selected for a trial
• Must not have active substance abuse issues.
• Must undergo proper patient education, discussion, and disclosure including an extensive discussion of the risks and benefits of this therapy.
• Must undergo appropriate psychological screening
Many experts recommend that the temporary neurostimulator be placed in an ASC or outpatient hospital setting. However, the temporary neurostimulator trial can be done in an office setting if all the sterility, equipment, professional training and support personnel required for the proper surgery, and follow up of the patient are available. Permanent neurostimulators must be placed in an ASC or hospital. Physicians performing SCS trials in the office setting must have like privileges at a local hospital or ASC, or the providers must be sub-specialty boarded in Pain Medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology.
It is preferable that physicians performing the SCS trial will also perform the permanent implant. If the physician implanting the trial neurostimulator does not or cannot implant the permanent neurostimulator, the patient should be informed of this in writing and given the name of the referral surgeon who will implant the permanent neurostimulator(s).
It is expected that accurate patient selection will lead to most patients going on to receive permanent implants. Only patients who experience a positive response to a trial should proceed to a permanent implantation. All trials which proceed to permanent implant must have adequate documentation in the chart to support that decision. A successful trial should be associated with at least a 50% reduction of target pain, or 50% reduction of analgesic medications, and show some element of functional improvement. (Patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy may show lower levels of improvement since it takes longer periods for improvement than the typical 1-2 week trial). Physician judgment and experience will also be taken into account.
Physicians with a low trial to permanent implant ratio (less than 50%) will be subject to post-payment review and may be asked to submit documentation as to the patient selection criteria, the radiologic imaging demonstrating proper lead placement, and the medical necessity of the trials.
Noridian will reimburse for placement of a maximum of 2 leads or 16 “contacts,” and for 2 SCS trials per anatomic spinal region per patient per lifetime (with exceptions allowed for technical limitations for the initial trials or for use of different modalities of stimulation, including new technology). More than 2 SCS trials per anatomic spinal region per patient per lifetime is not considered reasonable and necessary.
If a trial fails, a repeat trial is not appropriate unless there are extenuating circumstances that lead to trial failure.
Summary of evidence (opening)
NA
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
- 2025-10-16
- Last reviewed by the contractor
- 2021-03-02
- MCD version
- 37
- Derived from
- L33489
The contractor lists one National Coverage Determination as related: NCD 160.7 Electrical Nerve Stimulators. Where an NCD speaks, it controls; the LCD can only address what the NCD leaves open.
Other related documents: A54980 (Response to Comments), A54981 (Response to Comments).
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 Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC 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 L35136 cover?
The implantation of spinal cord stimulators (SCS) may be covered as therapies for the relief of chronic intractable pain. SCS is best suited for neuropathic pain but may have some limited value in other types of nociceptive severe, intractable pain. Therapy consists of a short trial with a percutaneous implantation of neurostimulator electrode(s) in the epidural space for assessing a patient’s suitability for… 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 L35136 apply to?
Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC applies it to Medicare claims in AK, AS, AZ, CA, CNMI, GU, HI, ID, MT, ND, NF, NV, OR, SD, SF, UT, WA, 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 L35136?
The companion billing and coding article A57791 lists 268 ICD-10-CM codes in 1 group that support medical necessity; 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 L35136?
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.