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Currently, there is only one gastric electrical stimulator that has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (see note below), the Gastric Electrical Stimulator (GES) System, manufactured by Medtronic. The GES system consists of four components: the implanted pulse generator, two unipolar intramuscular stomach leads, the stimulator programmer, and the memory cartridge. With the exception of the intramuscular leads, all other components have been used in other implantable neurological stimulators, such as spinal cord or sacral nerve stimulation. The intramuscular stomach leads are implanted either laparoscopically or during a laparotomy and are connected to the pulse generator that is implanted in a subcutaneous pocket. The programmer sets the stimulation parameters, which are typically set at an on time of 0.1 sec alternating with an off time of 5.0 sec.

Gastroparesis is a chronic disorder of gastric motility characterized by delaying emptying of a solid meal. Symptoms include bloating, distension, nausea, and vomiting. When severe and chronic, gastroparesis can be associated with dehydration, poor nutritional status, and poor glycemic control in diabetics. While most commonly associated with diabetes, gastroparesis is also found in chronic pseudo-obstruction, connective tissue disorders, Parkinson disease, and psychological pathology. Treatment of gastroparesis includes prokinetic agents such as cisapride and metoclopramide, and antiemetic agents such as metoclopramide, granisetron, or odansetron. Severe cases may require enteral or total parenteral nutrition.

Gastric electrical stimulation has also been investigated as a treatment of obesity as a technique to increase a feeling of satiety with subsequent reduced food intake and weight loss. The exact mechanisms resulting in changes in eating behavior are uncertain but may be related to neuro-hormonal modulation and/or stomach muscle stimulation.  There are no gastric electrical stimulation devices approved by teh FDA for the treatment of obesity.   However, the Transcend implantable gastric stimulation device, manufactured by Transneuronix Corporation, is currently available in Europe for treatment of obesity.  Transneuronix is currently funding clinical trials in the United States, and the company hopes to obtain FDA approval in a couple of years for use of the Transcend device to promote weight loss in the management of obesity. 

Note: It should be noted that the GES System received FDA approval through a “humanitarian device exemption.” This regulatory category was established in 1996 and only applies to devices intended to benefit less than 4,000 patients. The approval process is similar to that of a premarket approval application (PMA), but is exempt from the effectiveness requirements of a PMA. Thus the application is not required to provide results of scientifically valid clinical investigations, but must contain sufficient information for the FDA to determine that the device does not pose unreasonable or significant risk of illness or injury. A humanitarian use device may only be used in facilities that have an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to supervise clinical testing of the device.

Gastric electrical stimulation is considered investigational for the treatment of obesity.

The coverage guidelines outlined in the Medical Policy Manual should not be used in lieu of the Member's specific benefit plan language.

2/13/2002: Investigational definition added

5/1/2002: Type of Service and Place of Service deleted

3/25/2004: Reviewed by MPAC, remains investigational, Sources updated

5/19/2004: Code Reference section completed

12/13/2006: Policy reviewed, no changes

12/28/2006: Code Reference section updated per the 2007 CPT/HCPCS revisions

3/5/2007: Code Reference section updated per quarterly HCPCS revisions

12/18/2007: Coding updated per 2008 CPT/HCPCS revisions

2/19/2008: Policy reviewed, no changes

12/31/2008: Code reference section updated per CPT/HCPCS revisions

7/8/2009: Policy reviewed, description re-written with added information about Transneuronix

12/29/2010:  Policy statement and description unchanged. Removed deleted procedure codes 0162T and S2213 from the Code Reference section.

12/01/2011: Policy reviewed. Policy statement unchanged. FEP verbiage added to the Policy Exceptions section. Deleted outdated references from Sources section.

12/13/2012:  Added "or post-surgical etiology" to the first investigational policy statement. 

All codes billed for this procedure are considered investigational and not eligible for coverage. 

Non-Covered Codes

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