CMS sharply limits use of TENS for chronic lower back pain

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2012—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a final decision memo stating that it will discontinue most coverage of TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) devices for the treatment of chronic lower back pain. Coverage will only be allowed for clinical trials. “TENS has been historically thought to relieve chronic pain but the current evidence base refutes this assertion when applied to TENS” use for chronic lower back pain, CMS stated. www.cms.gov.