April 7, 2020

Effective June 1, 2020, TENS units, and the supplies to support the device, will no longer be covered for acute, subacute and chronic Low Back Pain (LBP).

In addition to the device, the following also will not be covered related to a TENS unit:

• Physical therapy visits, where the sole treatment provided is TENS for LBP, will not be eligible for cost-share
• Charges for TENS treatment, performed during an otherwise-covered physical therapy visit, will not be eligible for cost-share

Dry Needling (DN) is considered unproven by TRICARE and is therefore not a covered service:

• If DN is performed during the course of an otherwise-covered physical therapy visit, TRICARE may cost-share the cost of the covered services, but no reimbursement will be allowed for DN
• Physical therapy visits, where the sole treatment is DN, are non-covered

Visit TRICARE.mil/CoveredServices for more information.