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NCD 230.8 · version 2

NCD 230.8: Non-Implantable Pelvic Floor Electrical Stimulator

Reviewed by QuickIntell RCM Editorial Team · Last reviewed

Data effective
Data currency: Medicare Coverage Database release of September 24, 2026 (effective September 20, 2026). Next CMS release: weekly (every Thursday) for the MCD; quarterly for lab NCD code lists.

Key facts for NCD 230.8

Benefit category
Durable Medical Equipment
Effective date
06/19/2006
Implemented 06/19/2006
Transmittal
Transmittal 48
Versions published
2
Manual chapter
230
NCD Manual (Pub. 100-03)

TL;DR

NCD 230.8 sets Medicare's national policy for non-implantable pelvic floor electrical stimulator under the benefit category "Durable Medical Equipment", effective 06/19/2006 and implemented 06/19/2006. Pelvic floor electrical stimulation with a non-implantable stimulator is covered for the treatment of stress and/or urge urinary incontinence in cognitively intact patients who have failed a documented trial of pelvic muscle exercise (PME) training. It has been revised 1 time since publication and binds every Medicare Administrative Contractor nationally.

Item or service described

CIM 60-24

Non-implantable pelvic floor electrical stimulators provide neuromuscular electrical stimulation through the pelvic floor with the intent of strengthening and exercising pelvic floor musculature. Stimulation is generally delivered by vaginal or anal probes connected to an external pulse generator.

The methods of pelvic floor electrical stimulation vary in location, stimulus frequency (Hz), stimulus intensity or amplitude (mA), pulse duration (duty cycle), treatments per day, number of treatment days per week, length of time for each treatment session, overall time period for device use and between clinic and home settings. In general, the stimulus frequency and other parameters are chosen based on the patient's clinical diagnosis.

Indications and limitations of coverage

Pelvic floor electrical stimulation with a non-implantable stimulator is covered for the treatment of stress and/or urge urinary incontinence in cognitively intact patients who have failed a documented trial of pelvic muscle exercise (PME) training.

A failed trial of PME training is defined as no clinically significant improvement in urinary continence after completing 4 weeks of an ordered plan of pelvic muscle exercises designed to increase periurethral muscle strength.

Text reproduced from the CMS Medicare Coverage Database record for NCD 230.8 version 2. View the original on cms.gov.

Revision history

03/2006 - Correct typographical errors. Effective/Implementation date: 06/19/2006. ( TN 48 ) (CR4278)

12/2000 - Permited coverage for treatment of stress and/or urge urinary incontinence in cognitively intact patients who failed a documented trial of pelvic muscle exercise (PME) training. Failed trial of PME training defined as no clinically significant improvement in urinary continence after completing 4 weeks of ordered plan of pelvic muscle exercises designed to increase periurethral muscle strength. Effective and implementation dates 04/01/2001. ( TN 133 ) (CR 1419)

How this NCD shows up on remittances

A service denied under a National Coverage Determination returns CARC 50 (not deemed medically necessary) with remark N386 (decision based on an NCD); a denial citing a local policy instead carries N115. Because NCDs bind nationally, the appeal path is documentation that the patient meets the indications above, not a contractor-policy argument.

How QuickIntell applies NCD 230.8

QuickAuth checks the ordered service and diagnosis against NCD and LCD criteria before the encounter, QuickCode validates the diagnosis pairing on the claim, and QuickRCM routes CARC 50 denials with the policy text and the covered-code list attached so the appeal starts with evidence.

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Frequently asked questions — NCD 230.8

What does NCD 230.8 cover?

Pelvic floor electrical stimulation with a non-implantable stimulator is covered for the treatment of stress and/or urge urinary incontinence in cognitively intact patients who have failed a documented trial of pelvic muscle exercise (PME) training. The full indications and limitations are reproduced on this page from the CMS Medicare Coverage Database.

When did NCD 230.8 take effect?

The current version (2) is effective 06/19/2006, implemented 06/19/2006, published in transmittal 48. CMS lists 2 versions of this NCD.

Does a Local Coverage Determination override NCD 230.8?

No. A National Coverage Determination binds all Medicare Administrative Contractors; an LCD can only address services or circumstances the NCD leaves open. Claims denied under this NCD typically return CARC 50 with remark N386 (NCD) rather than N115 (LCD).

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.

Disclaimer

This page reproduces the CMS National Coverage Determination text and, for laboratory NCDs, the CMS ICD-10 edit lists, as an operational reference. Coverage decisions depend on the full policy, the claim and the contractor; nothing here is legal, clinical or billing advice. CPT codes are shown as numbers only; CPT descriptors are copyright AMA.