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Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Vagus Nerve Blocking Therapy 7.01.05
Effective date
Aug 20, 2026
Identified
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
Implanted vagus nerve stimulation is medically appropriate as a treatment for medically refractory seizures, and it is investigational as a treatment for depression or any other non-epileptic condition. Vagus nerve stimulation implants that detect and stimulate based on increased heart rate, such as the AspireSR Model, are investigational for all indications, and vagus nerve blocking therapy is investigational as a treatment for morbid obesity. The August 20, 2026 update was an annual review with the policy intent unchanged.
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01Already effective August 20, 2026: Implanted vagus nerve stimulation is medically appropriate only for medically refractory seizures, which the source defines as seizures that occur in spite of therapeutic levels of antiepileptic drugs or that cannot be treated with therapeutic levels because of intolerable adverse effects of these drugs.
02Implanted vagus nerve stimulation for depression or any other non-epileptic condition, including heart failure, fibromyalgia, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, essential tremor, headache or post-stroke, is investigational.
03Vagus nerve stimulation implants that allow detection and stimulation based on increased heart rate are investigational for all indications.
04Vagus nerve blocking therapy for morbid obesity is investigational.
05Open implantation of the integrated neurostimulation system (CPT 0908T), its replacement (0909T), removal (0910T), electronic analysis (0911T and 0912T), and the noninvasive vagus nerve stimulator (HCPCS E0735) are marked experimental or investigational, and CPT 64999 is marked experimental or investigational when billed as vagus nerve blocking.
06Vagus nerve stimulation is carried out in centers experienced in the treatment of epilepsy.
07Codes may not be covered under all circumstances.
Codes mentioned
6188561886618886455364568645696457064999959709597695977C1767C1778C1787C1816C1820C1822E0735L8679L8680L8681L8682L8683L8685L8686L8687L8688L8689G40.001G40.219G40.301G40.319G40.A01G40.A19G40.B01G40.B19G40.401G40.419G40.501G40.509G40.801G40.919G93.45
Original notice
Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Vagus Nerve Blocking Therapy 7.01.05
excellusbcbs.com · Always check the source before changing claims.
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Excellus BlueCross BlueShield policiesNeurologyPsychiatryBariatric SurgeryCode 61885Code 61886Code 61888Code 64553Code 64568Code 64569Code 64570Code 64999Code 95970Code 95976Code 95977Code C1767Code C1778Code C1787Code C1816Code C1820Code C1822Code E0735Code L8679Code L8680Code L8681Code L8682Code L8683Code L8685Code L8686Code L8687Code L8688Code L8689Code G40.001Code G40.219Code G40.301Code G40.319Code G40.A01Code G40.A19Code G40.B01Code G40.B19Code G40.401Code G40.419Code G40.501Code G40.509Code G40.801Code G40.919Code G93.45