Extracorporeal Shock-Wave Therapy for Musculoskeletal Indications and Soft Tissue Injuries (CPB 0649, reviewed 2026-09-14)
Aetna clinical policy bulletin 0649 (reviewed September 14, 2026) considers extracorporeal shock-wave therapy medically necessary only for calcific tendinopathy of the shoulder that has lasted at least 6 months, has a calcium deposit of 1 cm or more, and has not responded to conservative care. It lists many other musculoskeletal, pain, wound and scar indications as experimental or not covered. The source gives a review date but no effective date, so confirm current applicability before changing workflows.