Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) (CPB 0262, reviewed 2026-05-14)
Summary
Aetna considers EECP medically necessary for chronic stable angina as a single course of 35 treatment hours (CPT 92971 or HCPCS G0166) for members with disabling Canadian Cardiovascular Society Class III or IV angina who are refractory to maximum medical therapy and not readily amenable to PTCA or cardiac bypass. A repeat course is medically necessary when the member still meets the single-course criteria, prior EECP produced a sustained improvement (a greater than 25% reduction in anginal frequency or an improvement of one or more anginal classes), and at least three months have elapsed since the prior treatment. Hydraulic versions of these devices are considered not medically necessary, and EECP is considered experimental, investigational or unproven for conditions such as heart failure, erectile dysfunction, stroke, long COVID, microvascular angina and restless leg syndrome.
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