---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 C.F.R. § 414.232"
title: "42"
number: "414.232"
heading: "Special payment rules for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators (TENS)."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/42/414.232"
---

# §414.232. Special payment rules for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators (TENS).

- (a) **General payment rule.** Except as provided in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section, payment for TENS is made on a purchase basis with the purchase price determined using the methodology for purchase of inexpensive or routinely purchased items as described in [§ 414.220](/cfr/42/414.220.md). The payment amount for TENS computed under [§ 414.220(c)(2)](/cfr/42/414.220.md?p=c-2) is reduced according to the following formula:
  - (1) **Effective April 1, 1990—** the original payment amount is reduced by 15 percent.
  - (2) **Effective January 1, 1991—** the reduced payment amount in [paragraph (a)(1)](#a-1) is reduced by 15 percent.
  - (3) **Effective January 1, 1994—** the reduced payment amount in [paragraph (a)(1)](#a-1) is reduced by 45 percent.
- (b) **Exception.** In order to permit an attending physician time to determine whether the purchase of the TENS is medically appropriate for a particular patient, two months of rental payments may be made in addition to the purchase price. The rental payments are equal to 10 percent of the purchase price.

## Notes

### Amendments

[57 FR 57692, Dec. 7, 1992, as amended at 60 FR 35498, July 10, 1995]

### Authority

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1302, 1395hh, and 1395rr(b)(l).

### Source

Source: 55 FR 23441, June 8, 1990, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[57 FR 57692, Dec. 7, 1992, as amended at 60 FR 35498, July 10, 1995]