2.0 DESCRIPTION
2.1 The treatment
by physical means, hydrotherapy, heat, or similar modalities, physical
agents, bio-mechanical and neuro-physiological principles, and devices
to relieve pain, restore maximum function, and prevent disability
following disease, injury or loss of a body part.
2.2 Physical therapy services consist
of the physical evaluation of a patient by muscle testing and other
means and the prescribed therapeutic treatment and services of a
definite functional nature.
2.3 Physical
therapy to improve, restore, or maintain function, or to minimize
or prevent deterioration of function of a patient when prescribed
by a physician is covered in accordance with the rehabilitative
therapy provisions found in
Section 18.1, paragraph 2.6.
3.0 POLICY
3.1 Benefits
are payable for inpatient or outpatient physical therapy services
that are determined to be medically necessary for the treatment
of a covered condition, and that are directly and specifically related
to an active written regimen.
3.2 Physical
therapy services to aid in the recovery from disease or injury to
help the patient in attaining greater self-sufficiency, mobility,
and productivity through exercises and other modalities intended
to improve muscle strength, joint motion, coordination and endurance
are covered when prescribed by a TRICARE-authorized provider including:
• A physician;
• A certified Physician Assistant
(PA) working under the supervision of a physician;
• A certified Nurse Practitioner
(NP); or
3.3 Reimbursement for covered physical
therapy services is based on the appropriate Current Procedural
Terminology (CPT) procedure codes for the services billed on the
claim.
3.4 Physical
therapists are not authorized to bill using Evaluation and Management
(E/M) codes listed in the Physician’s CPT.
4.0 EXCLUSIONS
The following services are
not covered:
4.1 Diathermy, ultrasound, and
heat treatments for pulmonary conditions.
4.2 General
exercise programs, even if recommended by a physician (or other
authorized individual professional provider acting within the scope
of their license).
4.3 Electrical
nerve stimulation used in the treatment of upper motor neuron disorders
such as multiple sclerosis.
4.4 Separate
charges for instruction of the patient and family in therapy procedures.
4.5 Repetitive exercise to improve
gait, maintain strength and endurance, and assisted walking such
as that provided in support of feeble or unstable patients.
4.6 Range of motion and passive
exercises which are not related to restoration of a specific loss
of function, but are useful in maintaining range of motion in paralyzed
extremities.
4.7 Maintenance therapy that does
not require a skilled level after a therapy program has been designed
(see
Section 18.1).
4.8 Services
of chiropractors and naturopaths whether or not such services would
be eligible for benefits if rendered by an authorized provider.
4.9 Acupuncture with or without
electrical stimulation.
4.10 Athletic
training evaluation (CPT procedure codes 97169 through
97172).
4.11 Sensory
integration therapy (CPT procedure code 97533) which may be considered
a component of cognitive rehabilitation is unproven.
Note: This policy does not exclude
multidisciplinary services, such as physical therapy, occupational
therapy, or speech therapy.
4.12 Nonsurgical spinal decompression
therapy (including Internal or Intervertebral Disc Decompression
(IDD), Decompression Reduction Stabilization (DRS), or Vertebral
Axial Decompression (VAX-D) therapy) provided by mechanical or motorized
traction for the treatment of low back and/or neck pain is unproven.
The use of powered traction devices (including, but not limited
to, the Accu-SPINA™, VAX-D, and DRX9000) are likewise unproven.
4.13 For beneficiaries under the
age of three, services and items provided in accordance with the beneficiary’s
Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) as required by Part C
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and which
are otherwise allowable under the TRICARE Basic program or the Extended
Care Health Option (ECHO) but determined not to be medically or
psychologically necessary, are excluded.
4.14 For beneficiaries aged three
to 21, who are receiving special education services from a public education
agency, cost-sharing of outpatient physical therapy services that
are required by the IDEA and which are indicated in the beneficiary’s
Individualized Education Program (IEP), may not be cost-shared except
when the intensity or timeliness of physical therapy services as
proposed by the educational agency are not sufficient to meet the
medical needs of the beneficiary.
4.15 Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)
(also known as low level light therapy or cold laser therapy) for treatment
of soft tissue injuries, pain or inflammation is unproven.
4.16 Spinalator therapy and use
of a Spinalator Table for the treatment of neck and low back pain. Spinalator
therapy is defined as a type of traction that uses the patient’s
weight to create the traction force in the absence of any external
pulling force. The Spinalator Table is defined as a table with rollers that
applies consistent pressure and movement under the patient in the
absence of any external pulling devices.
4.17 Effective June 1, 2020, Transcutaneous
Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for the treatment of acute,
subacute, and chronic low back pain (LBP) is excluded from coverage.
Physical therapy visits where the sole treatment provided is TENS
for LBP are not eligible for cost-sharing. Separate charges for TENS
therapy provided during the course of an otherwise-covered physical
therapy visit are not eligible for cost-sharing. TENS units for
home use, prescribed during the course of physical therapy, for
the treatment of LBP, are not covered.
4.18 Dry Needling (DN) is considered
unproven.
Note: If a physical therapist provides
DN in the course of an otherwise-covered physical therapy session/visit,
TRICARE may cost-share the cost of the covered care; no separate
reimbursement is available for DN. Visits for the sole purpose of
receiving DN are non-covered.