Welcome news for patients living with lymphedema or chronic venous insufficiency and the Podiatrists trying to help them.

The news that The Pneumatic Compression Devices Local Coverage Determination (LCD) and related Policy Article (PA) scheduled to take effect for dates of service on or after November 1, 2014 are being delayed, is great news for lymphedema and CVI patients with venous stasis ulcers, as many of the restrictions as to which patients would qualify for coverage have been tabled - for the time being at least – with no future effective date for the draft policy being available at this time. Additional clinical information published since the release of the draft policy is being reviewed and the reason cited for the delay.

The announcement also helped to clarify confusing discrepancies between CMS local and national coverage policies as to who could prescribe and supply the devices. Some policies had DPM’s listed, but some did not. Those that did not, have now added DPM’s to the list of qualified providers along with MD’s and DO’s.