Home Health & Hospice Week

CMS has some good news for your patients battling cluster headaches (CH). "After careful reconsideration, effective for claims with dates of service on and after January 4, 2011, Medicare will allow for coverage of home use of oxygen to treat Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with CH when beneficiaries are enrolled in clinical studies that are approved by CMS for the purpose of gaining further evidence," CMS says in Jan. 14 Transmittal No. 130.

Previously, CMS covered home oxygen therapy for patients diagnosed with significant hypoxemia in conjunction with other health conditions. But last April, the American Headache Society and the American Academy of Neurology asked CMS to consider adding CH to the list of acceptable diagnoses.

Patients enrolled in Medicare-approved clinical studies with CH ICD-9 codes 339.00, 339.01, and 339.02 may qualify for coverage

The bad news: CH patients who aren't enrolled in clinical trials are still not eligible for home oxygen therapy coverage, says the memo at www.cms.gov/transmittals/downloads/R130NCD.pdf.