Traditional MedicareCoverageMedium impact
Non-Contact Ultrasound Treatment for Wounds
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island·RI · Wound Care, Physical Therapy, Dermatology +2 more·Physician / Facility
Effective date
Sep 1, 2019
We identified it
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
Effective September 1, 2019, CPT 97610 (non-contact ultrasound wound treatment) will not be covered for BlueCHiP Medicare plans and is considered not medically necessary for commercial products. This policy eliminates coverage for low frequency, non-contact, non-thermal ultrasound treatments for wound care.
Action Required
By September 1, 2019: Billing team must update system to mark CPT 97610 as non-covered for BlueCHiP Medicare and non-medically necessary for commercial plans. Stop billing this code for wound care treatments. Update encounter forms to alert providers that non-contact ultrasound treatments are no longer billable. Claims submitted after this date will be denied.