Healthlight wants Medicare patients to have a high quality, yet inexpensive infrared therapy option now that Medicare has issued its National Coverage Determination (NCD) not covering these devices. Despite the countless patients who’ve seen results with Healthlight, Anodyne® Therapy and others, the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) has determined that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that the use of infrared devices is not reasonable and necessary for treatment of Medicare beneficiaries. This includes conditions such as diabetic and non-diabetic peripheral sensory neuropathy, wounds and ulcers, and similar related conditions, including symptoms such as pain arising from these conditions. As a result they have issued this NCD (CAG-00291N).

Healthlight is currently used by the US Airforce, VA Hospitals, as well as physical therapy, chiropractic, home health care, and physicians through out the USA, Canada, and internationally.

Healthlight offers some of the most effective and safe near infrared pad systems on the market. Healthlight Infrared Therapy provides patients a range of products from our single standard and boot pad systems, to our popular dual boot system. Patients with sensitive or painful feet appreciate the full coverage the boot pads provide. The safety of the Healthlight system is unmatched with built in timers and auto shut-offs to the non-burning pad technology. While some manufacturers have been revealed by the FDA for 50 or more adverse events involving burns, Healthlight’s record is spotless. Infrared Therapy providers and patients can count on Healthlight as another trusted yet inexpensive supplier for their infrared light therapy needs. LymphaCare state that “Healthlight is currently used by the US Airforce, VA Hospitals, as well as physical therapy, chiropractic, home health care, and physicians through out the USA, Canada, and internationally.”

According to Medicare’s NCD Policy: The use of infrared and/or near-infrared light and/or heat, including monochromatic infrared energy (MIRE), and other similar devices, are not covered for the treatment, including symptoms such as pain arising from these conditions, of diabetic and/or non-diabetic peripheral sensory neuropathy, wounds and/or ulcers of skin and/or subcutaneous tissues in Medicare beneficiaries.

The Medicare website also states “CMS staff extensively searched MedLine (1965 to present) for primary studies evaluating the use of infrared light therapy for peripheral sensory neuropathy and dermal ulceration. CMS staff likewise searched the Cochran Collaboration, the NHS (National Health Service [GB) Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, and the INAHTA (International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment) databases for all systematic reviews and technology assessments. Systemic reviews were used to identify some of the obscure studies. Unpublished data were not included. Keywords used in the search included: laser and wound, laser and ulcer, laser and neuropathy, diode and wound, laser and pain, diode and ulcer, diode and neuropathy, diode and pain, infrared and wound, infrared and ulcer, infrared and neuropathy, infrared and pain, photonic therapy and wound, photonic therapy and ulcer, photonic therapy and neuropathy, and photonic therapy and pain.”

The team at Healthlight believes strongly in the healing powers of infrared therapy. Light therapy has proven to be more effective than Lyrica, Neurontin, Cymbalta, and other drugs that have been utilized on similar patient populations. Hopefully Medicare will consider changing it coverage policy regarding these devices as more positive scientific studies are completed within Medicare’s strict criteria to be considered for the next review period.

LymphaCare is a New York based company and a national distributor of the Healthlight system. LymphaCare provides a full range of products for patients with peripheral vascular disease, post mastectomy, post breast cancer, lymphedema, diabetes, neuropathy and wound care. LymphaCare will be exhibiting the Healthlight system along with its line of lymph edema compression products at the upcoming National Lymphedema Confernce in Nashville in November 1-5, 2006.

For more information LymphaCare Healthlight can be reached at 800-288-1801 or see the
Medicare National Coverage Decision for Infrared Therapy (CAG-00291N).

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