Biophysical Agents
Medicare
Miscellaneous
E-stim, US or SWD
Evidence
100

This electrical stimulation waveform can be used to treat pressure/venous/arterial/diabetic ulcers.

What is high volt pulsed current (HVPC)

100

Medicare reimburses for the application of these two biophysical agents to accelerate the healing of chronic wounds.

What are pulsed shortwave diathermy (PSWD) and electrical stimulation

100

This is a thick yellow, brown, or green substance that contains white blood cells, dead bacteria, and inflammatory cells.

What is exudate

100

In the inflammatory phase of healing, this biophysical agent has been found to reduce pain, increase cell membrane permeability, and increase angiogenesis.

What is electromagnetic therapy (pulsed shortwave diathermy)

100

This biophysical agent has received an ‘A’ for strength of evidence from the NPUAP and EPUAP.

What is high volt pulsed current (HVPC)

200

These three biophysical agents can be used to increase circulation and reduce edema.

What are electrical sitmulation, diathermy, and ultrasound

200

Medicare coverage policy allows for therapy reimbursement of biophysical agents for these four types of wounds.

What are pressure, diabetic, arterial, and venous stasis.

200

This tool is used to map out sensory loss, especially on the feet.

What is the Semmes Weinstein monofilament

200

In the proliferation phase of healing, this biophysical agent is suspected to increase collagen production and increase protein and nerve growth factor.

What is electromagnetic therapy (pulsed shortwave diathermy)

200

This is the percentage that biophysical agents, in conjunction with standard wound care, can accelerate the healing of chronic wounds.

What is 30-50%

300

Therapy can apply this biophysical agent during a difficult dressing change to reduce a patient’s pain.

What is nerve block

300

According to CMS, this percentage of Medicare beneficiaries experience chronic, non-healing wounds.

What is 15%

300

In conjunction with standard wound care, therapy can assist with this basic care item to reduce risk or help to heal diabetic and pressure ulcers.

What is offloading of pressure

300

In the inflammatory phase of healing this biophysical agent has been found to increase serotonin and histamine release to trigger inflammation and reduce pain.

What is ultrasound

300

It is at these parts of the body that pressure ulcers are likely to develop.

What are bony prominences

400

MFAC muscle pump can be applied to the distal lower extremity during active ROM to address this common symptom of immobility.

What is dependent edema.

400

According to CMS, this is the estimated annual cost of chronic wounds (for Medicare beneficiaries).  

What is $32 billion

400

Ultrasound can penetrate through these types of dressings.

What are hydrogel and transparent films.

400

In the proliferation phase of healing, this biophysical agent has been found to increase capillary density and stimulate protein synthesis.

What is ultrasound

400

The number is people affected by chronic wounds annually in the United States.

What is 6.5 million

500

Thermal electromagnetic therapy (pulsed shortwave diathermy) can be applied over the femoral artery or popliteal artery to increase distal blood flow in cases of this common diagnosis.  

Peripheral arterial disease

500

When therapy is integrating ACP programming and technology to accelerate the healing of chronic pressure ulcers, the wound must be staged as this ____ or greater.

What is a Stage III

500

This is the most common location for venous stasis ulcers.

What is the distal medial 1/3 of the lower extremity

500

This biophysical agent is suspected to reduce bacterial load when applied directly into the wound bed.

What is high volt pulsed current (electrical stimulation) 

500

This modality was associated with faster wound area reduction or a higher proportion of wounds that healed in 14 of 16 randomized controlled trials.

What is electrical stimulation

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