Transcendental Meditation

CMS National Coverage Determination | ncd_id=117 | manual_section=30.5 | coverage_level_code=3 | national_coverage_type=True | under_review=False | lab_ncd=False

After review of this issue, CMS has concluded that the evidence concerning the medical efficacy of TM is incomplete at best and does not demonstrate effectiveness and that a professional level of skill is not required for the training of patients to engage in TM. Although many articles have been written about application of TM for patients with certain forms of hypertension and anxiety, there are no rigorous scientific studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of TM for use as an adjunct medical therapy for such conditions. Accordingly, neither TM nor the training of patients for its use are covered under the Medicare program.

Item/Service Description: Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a skill that is claimed to produce a state of rest and relaxation when practiced effectively. Typically, patients are taught TM techniques over the course of several sessions by persons trained in TM. The patient then uses the TM technique on his or her own to induce the relaxed state. Proponents of TM have urged that Medicare cover the training of patients to practice TM when it is medically prescribed as treatment for mild hypertension, as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of essential hypertension, or as the sole or adjunctive treatment of anxiety and other psychological stress-related disorders. Revision History: 09/1995 - Reflected noncoverage of transcendental meditation and cost of training patients to use it. Effective date 10/11/1995. (TN 79) Benefit Categories: 33 - Incident to a physician's professional Service; 52 - Physicians' Services Transmittal: transmittal_number=79 | transmittal_issue_date=1995-09-01