This LCD supplements but does not replace, modify or supersede Medicare payment policy rules and regulations for therapy services. Neither Medicare payment policy rules nor this LCD replace, modify or supersede state statutes regarding the definitions and/or scopes of practice for physicians, qualified Non-Physician Practitioners (NPPs), Physical Therapists (PTs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), physical therapy assistants and others who are licensed to perform specific skilled therapy services. Federal statute and subsequent Medicare regulations regarding provision and payment for therapy services are lengthy. They are not completely repeated in this LCD. All providers who report therapy services for Medicare payment must fully understand and follow all existing laws, regulations and rules for Medicare payment for therapy services and must properly submit only valid claims for them. Please review and understand them and apply the medical necessity provisions in the policy within the context of the manual rules. Relevant CMS manual instructions are found in the following Internet-Only Manuals (IOMs) published on the CMS Web site:
- IOM Pub. 100-02, Chapter 15, Sections 220 and 230 (http://www.cms.gov/manuals/Downloads/bp102c15.pdf).
- IOM Pub. 100-04, Chapter 5 (http://www.cms.gov/manuals/downloads/clm104c05.pdf).
The cornerstones of rehabilitative therapy are mobilization, education and therapeutic exercise. The goal of rehabilitative medicine is discernible, functional progress toward the restoration or maximization of impaired neuromuscular and musculoskeletal function. To that end, the dynamic component of therapy, mobilization and patient education should predominate. Passive modalities should be used in the “warm-up” phase of the patient encounter as preparation for or as an adjunct to therapeutic procedures, and in the “cool-down” phase for reduction of pain, swelling and other post-treatment syndromes. Though passive modalities may predominate in the earlier phases of rehabilitation where the patient’s ability to participate in therapeutic exercise is restricted, Medicare expects these modalities to never be the sole or predominant constituent of a therapy plan of care. Further, Medicare expects the patient’s record to clearly reflect medical necessity for passive modalities, especially those that exceed 25 percent of the cumulative service hours of rehabilitative therapy provided for any beneficiary under a plan of care.
Complicating factors that may influence treatment, e.g., they may influence the type, frequency and/or duration of treatment, may be represented by diagnoses (see Pub. 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 5, Section 10.2.C.3); by patient factors such as age, severity, acuity, multiple conditions, co-morbidities, and motivation; or by the patient’s social circumstances, such as the support of a significant other or the availability of transportation to therapy.
In more refractory cases, the practitioner will support the need for continued care with documentation that clearly outlines the factors that affect the rate of recovery and reinforces the anticipation that further functional gain is expected. The contractor recognizes variability in strength, recovery time and the ability to be educated, and allows for a recertification for additional therapy, as long as adequate medical documentation by the supervising physician or therapist is recorded in the medical record and the patient continues to demonstrate progress.
In all cases, whether the duration and intensity of rehabilitative services rendered are limited or extensive, Medicare expects the patient’s medical record to clearly demonstrate medical reasonableness and necessity for all therapy services, both active and passive. If an individual’s expected rehabilitation potential is insignificant, or the patient’s maximum rehabilitation potential have been realized, therapy is not reasonable and necessary and should not be reported to Medicare as a payable service.
Though this LCD establishes limitations to duration and intensity of outpatient rehabilitation, Medicare expects that most patients will not require maximum numbers of services. Providing maximal services as a routine is of concern and will result in Medicare auditing.
General Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) Guidelines
This LCD applies to the therapy services coded with the 97XXX series of CPT codes. Per CMS definitions, therapy services include these services with a few exceptions. Please refer to the documents found athttp://www.cms.gov/TherapyServices/05_Annual_Therapy_Update.asp#TopOfPage for the complete listing of CPT codes that are “always” considered therapy services and those that are “sometimes” considered therapy services for coverage, requirement for plan of care, and coding purposes.
Intervention with Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) modalities and procedures is indicated when an assessment by a physician, NPP and/or therapist supports utilization of the intervention, there is documentation of objective physical and functional limitations (signs and symptoms), and the written plan of care incorporates those treatment elements that are expected to result in improvement of these limitations in a reasonable and generally predictable period of time. PM&R services must be furnished on an outpatient basis and provided while the patient is or was under the care of a physician or NPP.
Medicare covers therapy services personally performed only by one of the following:
- Licensed therapy professionals: licensed PTs, OTs and SLPs.
- Licensed physical therapy assistants when supervised directly by a licensed PT.
- Licensed occupational therapy assistants when supervised directly by a licensed OT.
- Medical Doctors (MDs) and Doctors of Osteopathy (DOs).
- Doctors of Optometry (ODs) and Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) when performing services within their licenses’ scope of practice and their training and competency.
- Qualified NPPs, including Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs), Physician Assistants (PAs) or Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS)) when performing services within their licenses’ scope of practice and their training and competency (ANP, PA, CNS).
- “Qualified” personnel when directly supervised by a physician (MD, DO, OD, DPM) or qualified NPP, and when all conditions of billing services “incident to” a physician have been met. Qualified personnel have met the educational and degree requirements of a licensed therapy professional (PT, OT, SLP), but are not required to be licensed.Please note that unless these therapy services are performed by a “qualified” person, the services are not covered and must not be reported for Medicare payment.
Other specific requirements include the following:
- Medicare covers therapy services that require the skill of a trained and licensed practitioner to perform or supervise. Medicare does not cover therapy services that do not require the skill of a trained and licensed practitioner to perform even when one of the persons in the list above performs them.
- A written plan of care, consisting of diagnoses (long-term treatment goals and type, amount, duration and frequency of therapy services), must be established by the physician, NPP or therapist providing the services before the services are begun.
- The plan must be periodically reviewed by the physician or NPP.
- A therapist may not significantly alter a plan of care established or certified by the physician or NPP without their documented written or verbal approval.
- The plan must be certified and recertified periodically (see “Documentation Requirements” for details) by the physician or NPP. New or significantly modified plans of care must be certified within 30 calendar days after the initial treatment under that plan, unless delayed certification criteria are met.
- If certification is obtained verbally, it must be followed by a signature within 14 days to be timely.
- Recertifications must be obtained within the duration of the initial plan of care or within 90 calendar days of the initial treatment under that plan, whichever is less.
- Services provided concurrently by a physician, PT and OT may be covered if separate and distinct goals are documented in the treatment plans.
- The type, frequency and duration of services must be medically necessary for the patient’s condition under accepted medical, physical therapy and occupational therapy practice standards and relate directly to a written treatment plan. There must be an expectation that the condition or level of function will improve within a reasonable (and generally predictable) time or the services must be necessary to establish a safe and effective maintenance regimen required in connection with a specific disease.
It is not medically necessary for a qualified professional to perform or supervise maintenance programs that do not require the professional skills of a qualified professional. These situations include:
- Services related to activities for the general good and welfare of patients (i.e., general exercises to promote overall fitness and flexibility).
- Repetitive exercises to maintain gait or maintain strength and endurance, and assisted walking such as that provided in support for feeble or unstable patients.
- Range of motion and passive exercises that are not related to restoration of a specific loss of function, but are useful in maintaining range of motion in paralyzed extremities.
- Maintenance therapies after the patient has achieved therapeutic goals or for patients who show no further meaningful progress and should become patient- or caregiver-directed.
For all PM&R modalities and therapeutic procedures on a given day, it is usually not medically necessary to have more than one treatment session per discipline. Treatment times per session vary based upon the patient’s medical initial therapy needs and progress to date toward established goals. Treatment times per session typically will not exceed 45–60 minutes. Additional time is sometimes required for more complex and/or slow-to-respond patients. However, documentation of the exceptional circumstances must be maintained in the patient’s medical record and available upon request.
For purposes of this policy, a “service” is defined as a 15-minute billing increment of a specific therapy CPT code. For codes that are defined as per 15 minutes or each 15 minutes, Medicare would not expect to see the qualified professional billing per treatment site. Report these codes based on the actual amount of time spent on a cumulative basis for the specified modality or procedure. For additional information, review unusual length of time issues in the “Documentation Requirements” section of this policy.
- PM&R services in patients’ homes, qualified professionals’ offices, Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), outpatient hospital clinics, Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (ORFs) and Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (CORFs) are covered when reasonable and medically necessary for the treatment of the patient’s condition (signs and symptoms).
Example
Qualified professional ABC123XYZ orders ultrasound for the right and left shoulder areas and lower back. The medical records indicate the following:
- US – R shoulder x 10 minutes.
- US – L shoulder x 10 minutes.
- US – Lower back x 10 minutes.
The proper coding is 97035 x QB 2.
Note: The actual number of minutes involved is 30, which equals a quantity of two.
- For claims submitted by a physician or NPP:
- Services performed by non-employees or those not under a physician’s or NPP’s direct supervision are not covered.
- Services not relating to a written treatment plan are not medically necessary.
- Services that do not require the professional skills of a physician or NPP to perform or supervise are not medically necessary.
- For claims submitted by a Physical or Occupational Therapist (PT or OT) or Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in independent practice:
- An order, sometimes called a referral, for therapy service, if it is documented in the medical record, provides evidence of both the need for care and that the patient is under the care of a physician.
- Claims submitted by anyone other than a therapist enrolled as a Medicare provider are not covered.
- Services not performed by or under the direct supervision of the therapist are not covered.
- Services performed by people who are not employees of the therapist are not covered.
- Services not furnished in the therapist’s office or in the patient’s home are not covered.
- Physical therapy services that do not require the professional skills of a qualified (PT) to perform or supervise are not medically necessary.
- Occupational therapy services that do not require the professional skills of a qualified OT to perform or supervise are not medically necessary.
- Speech-language pathology services that do not require the professional skills of a qualified SLP to perform or supervise are not medically necessary.
Maintenance Therapy
Maintenance therapy after therapeutic goals and/or rehabilitative potentials are reached is medically reasonable and necessary but is not covered. However, a qualified professional may develop a maintenance program for the patient to pursue outside of a therapy program and plan of care, generally administered and supervised by family or caregivers. Periodic evaluations of the patient’s condition and response to treatment may be covered when medically necessary if the judgment and skills of a qualified professional are required. Examples include:
- Design of a maintenance regimen required to delay or minimize muscular and functional deterioration in patients suffering from a chronic disease.
- Instructing the patient, family member(s) or caregiver(s) in carrying out the maintenance program.
- Infrequent re-evaluations required to assess the patient’s condition and adjust the program.
If a maintenance program is not established until after the therapy program has been completed (and the skills of a therapist are not necessary), development of a maintenance program is not considered reasonable and necessary for the patient’s condition.
Note: Bill these services (e.g., codes 99212–99215, 97002, 97004) with the appropriate evaluation/re-evaluation. It is expected these services will be infrequently required.
General Modality Guidelines (Codes 97012 and 97018–97039)
- Modality codes 97012© (mechanical traction) and 97016©–97028© (vasopneumatic device, paraffin bath therapy, whirlpool therapy, diathermy, and ultraviolet therapy) require supervision by the qualified professional; codes 97032©–97039© (electrical stimulation, contrast bath therapy, ultrasound therapy, hydrotherapy, and physical therapy treatment unlisted) require direct (one-on-one) contact with the patient by the qualified professional.
- Therapeutic exercise and activities are essential for rehabilitation. The use of modalities as stand-alone treatment is not indicated as a sole approach to rehabilitation. Therefore, an overall course of rehabilitative treatment is expected to consist predominantly of therapeutic procedures (such as codes 97110© (therapeutic exercises), 97112© (neuromuscular re-education, 97116© (gait training therapy) and/or 97530© (therapeutic activities)), with adjunctive use of modalities. Although passive modalities may play a larger role in the early stages of rehabilitation and in treating exacerbations it is expected that modalities will comprise a small portion of the total therapy service time involved during the course of rehabilitative therapy. Further, it is expected that the record will demonstrate both the patient’s clinical progress and concomitant appropriate increasingly active therapeutic treatment.
- When modality codes 97012© (mechanical traction) and 97018© (paraffin bath therapy) are used alone (absent therapeutic procedures and not as a precursor to active treatment) and solely to promote healing, relieve muscle spasm, reduce inflammation and edema, or as analgesia, a limited number of visits (e.g., 1–2) visits may be medically necessary to determine the effectiveness of treatment and for patient education. It is usually not medically reasonable and necessary to continue modality-only treatment by the qualified professional.
- Generally, adjunctive use of services billed with modality codes 97012© (mechanical traction) and 97018© (paraffin bath therapy) is coverable only if they enhance the therapeutic procedures. Documentation supporting the medical necessity and clinical justification for the services’ continued use must be made available to Medicare upon request.
- Generally, only one heating modality per day of therapy is reasonable and necessary. Medicare would not expect to see multiple heating modalities billed routinely on the same day. Exceptions could include musculoskeletal pathology/injuries in which both superficial and deep structures are impaired. Documentation containing clinical justification supporting the medical necessity for multiple heating modalities such as codes 97018, 97024, and 97035 on the same day is essential.
- Treatment with infrared therapy (97026©) is non-covered.
- Anodyne therapy (97039©) is non-covered (see “Non-Covered Services – 4Z-18AB” LCD).
- Generally, only one hydrotherapy modality is coverable per day when the sole purpose is to relieve muscle spasm, inflammation or edema. Documentation must be available supporting the use of multiple modalities as contributing to the patient’s progress and restoration of function. Because some of the modalities are considered components of other modalities and procedures they are not separately reimbursed. Please refer to the Correct Coding Initiative.
- Medicare does not provide payment for the therapeutic modality described as iontophoresis.
- Medicare does not provide payment for the therapeutic modality described as phonophoresis.
Specific Modality Guidelines
The following clinical guidelines pertain to the specific modalities listed. Please refer to the “ICD-9-CM Codes That Support Medical Necessity” section of this policy for appropriate covered diagnoses to be used with these modalities.
G0283 – This modality includes the following types of electrical stimulation:
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS).
- Microamperage E-Stimulation (MENS).
- Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (PENS).
- Electrogalvanic stimulation (high voltage pulsed current).
- Functional electrical stimulation.
- Interferential current/medium current.
These types of electrical stimulation may be necessary during the initial phase of treatment, but there must be an expectation of improvement in function. Electrical stimulation must be utilized with appropriate therapeutic procedures (e.g., 97110) to effect continued improvement.
Electrical stimulation is typically used in conjunction with therapeutic exercises. It is expected this modality will be used in a clearly adjunctive role and not as a major component of the therapeutic encounter.
When electrical stimulation is used for muscle strengthening or retraining, the nerve supply to the muscle must be intact. It is not medically necessary for completely denervated motor nerve disorders in which there is no potential for recovery or restoration of function.
97012© (mechanical traction) – This modality, when provided by physicians or independent PTs, is typically used in conjunction with therapeutic procedures, not as an isolated treatment; however, it may be used in weaning an acute patient to a self-administered home program.
97016© (vasopneumatic device therapy) – Education for the home use of a lymphedema pump is sometimes provided by the lymphedema pump supplier. If the supplier does not provide this education, limited therapy professional visits for such purposes are allowable. Medicare does not expect to be routinely billed for repeated lymphedema treatments. Medicare expects that documentation in the physician’s medical record must support the necessity of repeated services.
For requirements on lymphedema therapy, see TrailBlazer’s LCD “Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy (CDP) for Lymphedema – 4Y-17.”
97018© (paraffin bath therapy) – Also known as hot wax treatment, this modality may be medically necessary as an adjunct to other physical/occupational therapy interventions but this service is primarily used for pain relief in chronic joint problems of the wrists, hands or feet. Most patients will be capable of self managing these treatments after education. Therefore, when not used as an adjunct to other physical/occupational therapy interventions, Medicare payment for these services will usually be limited to two or three visits. Documentation supporting the medical necessity for repetitive treatments must be made available to Medicare upon request.
97022© (whirlpool therapy) and 97036© (hydrotherapy) – These modalities involve the use of agitated water to relieve muscle spasms, improve circulation or cleanse wounds (e.g., ulcers, exfoliative skin conditions).
- Physician or therapist supervision of the whirlpool modality must be medically necessary for the following indications:
- The patient’s condition is complicated by:
- Circulatory deficiency.
- Areas of desensitization.
- Impaired mobility or limitations in the positioning of the patient.
- Concerns about safety, if left unsupervised.
- Documentation supporting the medical necessity for additional sessions must be made available to Medicare upon request.
- It is not medically necessary to have more than one form of hydrotherapy during a treatment session.
97028© (ultraviolet therapy) – Ultraviolet must be prescribed by the attending physician. Minimal erythema dosage must be documented and made available to Medicare upon request.
97032© (electrical stimulation) – See procedure code G0283 for clinical guidelines for this procedure.
97034© (contrast bath therapy) and 97035© (ultrasound therapy) – These modalities are generally used as adjuncts to a therapeutic procedure.
97039 – For all claims submitted with an unlisted modality code, a complete narrative description (detailing the service or procedure being performed) must be included on the claim. This code applies only to a procedure in which constant attendance was a requisite. See TrailBlazer’s LCD, “Non-Covered Services – 4Z-18AB,” for non-covered services billed with CPT code 97039.
General Guidelines for Therapeutic Procedures 97110–97546
- Therapeutic procedures are procedures that attempt to reduce impairment and improve function through the application of clinical skills and/or services.
- Use of these procedures requires that the practitioner have direct (one-on-one) patient contact.
- Codes 97110© (therapeutic exercises), 97112© (neuromuscular re-education), 97113© (aquatic therapy/exercises) and 97530© (therapeutic activities) describe several different types of therapeutic interventions. The expected goals documented in the treatment plan, affected by the use of each of these procedures, will help define whether these procedures are reasonable and medically necessary. Therefore, since any one or a combination of more than one of codes 97110© (therapeutic exercises), 97112© (neuromuscular re-education), 97113© (aquatic therapy/exercises) and 97530© (therapeutic activities) may be used in a treatment plan, documentation must support the use of each code as it relates to specific therapeutic goal(s).
- Documentation supporting the medical necessity for continued treatment must be made available to Medicare upon request.
Specific Guidelines for Therapeutic Procedures
The following clinical guidelines pertain to the specific listed therapeutic procedures. Please refer to the “ICD-9-CM Codes That Support Medical Necessity” section of this policy for appropriate covered diagnoses to use for these therapeutic procedures.
Per Change Request 2083
In accordance with established conditions, all rehabilitation services to beneficiaries with a primary vision impairment diagnosis must be provided pursuant to a written treatment plan established by a Medicare physician and implemented by approved Medicare qualified professionals (PTs or OTs) or as “incident to” physician services. Some of the following rehabilitation programs/services for beneficiaries with vision impairment may include Medicare covered therapeutic services.
- Mobility.
- Activities of daily living.
- Other medically necessary services, including low-vision services.
The patient must have a potential for restoration or improvement of lost functions, and must be expected to improve significantly within a reasonable and generally predictable amount of time. Rehabilitation services are not covered if the patient is unable to cooperate in the treatment program or if clear goals are not definable. Most rehabilitation is short-term and intensive, and maintenance therapy – services required to maintain a level of functioning – is not covered. For example, a person with an ICD-9-CM diagnosis of 369.08 (profound impairment in both eyes, i.e., best corrected visual acuity is less than 20/400 or visual field is 10 degrees or less) would generally be eligible for, and may be provided, rehabilitation services under CPT/HCPCS code 97535© (self-care/home management training, i.e., activities of daily living, compensatory training, meal preparation, safety procedures, and instruction in the use of adaptive equipment).
97110© (therapeutic exercises) – Therapeutic exercise to develop strength and endurance, range of motion, and flexibility: active, active-assisted or passive (e.g., treadmill, isokinetic exercise, lumbar stabilization, stretching, strengthening). The exercise may be reasonable and medically necessary for a loss or restriction of joint motion, strength, functional capacity or mobility that has resulted from a specific disease or injury. Documentation must show objective loss of joint motion, strength or mobility (e.g., degrees of motion, strength grades, levels of assistance).This therapeutic procedure is measured in 15-minute units with therapy sessions frequently consisting of several units.
97112© (neuromuscular re-education) – This therapeutic procedure is provided to improve balance, coordination, kinesthetic sense, posture, and proprioception (e.g., proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, Feldenkrais, Bobath, BAP’s boards and desensitization techniques). The procedure may be reasonable and medically necessary for impairments that affect the body’s neuromuscular system (e.g., poor static or dynamic sitting/standing balance, loss of gross and fine motor coordination, hypo/hypertonicity).
97113© (aquatic therapy) – This procedure uses the therapeutic properties of water (e.g., buoyancy, resistance). The procedure may be reasonable and medically necessary for a loss or restriction of joint motion, strength, mobility or function that has resulted from a specific disease or injury.
Documentation must show objective loss of joint motion, strength or mobility (e.g., degrees of motion, strength grades, levels of assistance).
Do not use this code for situations where no exercise is being performed in the water environment (e.g., debridement of ulcers).
When aquatic therapy is provided in a community pool, the provider must rent or lease at least a portion of the pool for the exclusive use of the patients.
Other forms of exercise therapy may be medically necessary in addition to aquatic therapy when the patient cannot perform land-based exercises effectively to treat his condition without first undergoing the aquatic therapy, or when aquatic therapy facilitates progress to land-based exercise or increased function. Documentation must be available in the record to support medical necessity.
It is not medically necessary to employ hydrotherapy and aquatic therapy during the same treatment session.
Note: Hydrotherapy refers to codes 97022 and 97036.
97116© (gait training therapy) – This procedure may be medically necessary for training patients whose walking abilities have been impaired by neurological, muscular, or skeletal abnormalities or trauma.
This procedure is not reasonable and necessary or medically necessary when the patient’s walking ability is not expected to improve.
Repetitive walk-strengthening exercises for feeble or unstable patients or to increase endurance do not require qualified professional supervision and will be denied as not reasonable and necessary.
Generally, CPT code 97116© (gait training therapy) should not be reported with 97760© (orthotic management and training). However, if a service represented by code 97760© (orthotic management and training) was performed on an upper extremity and a service represented by code 97116© (gait training) was also performed, both codes may be billed with modifier 59 to denote separate anatomic sites.
97124© (massage therapy) – This procedure may be medically necessary as adjunctive treatment to another therapeutic procedure on the same day, which is designed to restore muscle function, reduce edema, improve joint motion or for relief of muscle spasm. For manipulation of chest wall (94667), see TrailBlazer’s LCD “Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation – 4Y-20.”
In most cases, postural drainage and pulmonary exercises can be carried out safely and effectively by ancillary personnel. If the attending physician determines that for the safe and effective administration of these procedures, the professional skills of a PT are required, coverage may be allowed. Documentation of the severity of the pulmonary condition and referral by the physician must be available.
97139© (physical medicine procedure unlisted) – For all claims submitted with an unlisted procedure code, a complete narrative description (detailing the service or procedure being performed) must be included on the claim.
For example: Report phonophoresis with CPT code 97139©. However, because there is no evidence from published, controlled clinical studies demonstrating the efficacy of this modality, phonophoresis will be denied as not proven safe and effective, and therefore is not a covered service.
97140© (manual therapy) – Manual therapy such as mobilization, manipulation, manual traction and manual lymphatic drainage. (Manual lymphatic drainage is addressed in a separate TrailBlazer policy.)
Myofascial Release/Soft Tissue Mobilization
This procedure may be medically necessary for the treatment of restricted motion of soft tissues involving the extremities, neck and/or trunk. Skilled manual techniques (active and/or passive) are applied to effect changes in the soft tissues, articular structures, neural or vascular systems. Examples include:
- Facilitation of fluid exchange.
- Restoration of movement in acutely edematous; muscles.
- Stretching of shortened connective tissue.
This procedure may be medically necessary as an adjunct to other therapeutic procedures such as codes 97110© (therapeutic exercises), 97112© (neuromuscular re-education) or 97530© (therapeutic activities).
Manipulation
CPT description for code 97140© (manual therapy) includes manual therapy and techniques such as manipulation, soft tissue mobilization or joint mobilization. Individual techniques should not be separately coded or billed since it is a time-based code. All techniques applied on the same date of service should be totaled into the time calculated for the code. This procedure may be medically necessary as an adjunct to other therapeutic procedures such as those represented by code 97110© (therapeutic exercises), 97112© (neuromuscular re-education) or 97530© (therapeutic activities).
Joint Mobilization
This procedure may be medically necessary as an adjunct to therapeutic exercises when loss of articular motion and flexibility impedes the therapeutic procedure. CPT description for code 97140© (manual therapy) includes manual therapy and techniques such as manipulation, soft tissue mobilization or joint mobilization. Individual techniques should not be separately coded or billed since it is a time-based code. All techniques applied on the same date of service should be totaled into the time calculated for the code.
Documentation supporting the medical necessity for continued treatment must be made available to Medicare upon request.
97150© (group therapeutic procedures) – In the case of group therapy (untimed), Medicare expects that skilled, medically necessary services will be provided as appropriate to each patient’s plan of care. Therefore, group therapy sessions (two or more patients) should be of sufficient length to address the needs of each of the patients in the group. The physician or therapist involved in group therapy services must be in constant attendance, but one-on-one patient contact is not required.
Documentation must identify the specific treatment technique(s) used in the group, how the treatment technique will restore function, the frequency and duration of the particular group setting, and the treatment goal in the individualized (patient-specific) plan. The number of persons in the group must also be documented. These records must be made available to Medicare upon request.
97530© (therapeutic activities) – This procedure involves using functional activities (e.g., bending, lifting, carrying, reaching, catching and overhead activities) to improve functional performance in a progressive manner.
The activities are usually directed at a loss or restriction of mobility, strength, balance or coordination. They require the professional skills of a qualified professional and are designed to address a specific functional need of the patient. These dynamic activities must be part of an active treatment plan and directed at a specific outcome.
97532© (cognitive skills development) – This activity focuses on cognitive skills development to improve attention, memory and problem-solving, with direct one-on-one patient contact by the qualified professional, each 15 minutes.
97533© (sensory integrative techniques) – This activity focuses on sensory integrative techniques to enhance sensory processing and to promote adaptive responses to environmental demands, with direct one-on-one contact by the qualified professional, each 15 minutes.
97535© (self care management training) – This procedure is medically necessary only when it requires the professional skills of a qualified professional, is designed to address specific needs of the patient and is part of an active treatment plan directed at a specific goal.
The patient or caregiver must have the capacity to learn from instructions.
Documentation supporting the medical necessity for continued treatment must be made available to Medicare upon request.
Services provided concurrently by physicians, PTs and OTs may be covered if separate and distinct goals are documented in the treatment plans, and an integrated treatment plan is maintained by the requesting physician.
Documentation must relate the training to expected functional goals the patient can attain.
97537© (community/work reintegration training) – This training may be medically necessary when performed in conjunction with a patient’s individual treatment plan aimed at improving or restoring specific functions that were impaired by an identified illness or injury, and when expected outcomes that are attainable by the patient are specified in the plan.
This training is medically necessary only when it requires the professional skills of a qualified professional. Generally speaking, the professional skills of a qualified professional are not required to effect improvement or restoration of function when a patient suffers a temporary loss or reduction of function that could reasonably be expected to improve as the patient gradually resumes normal activities. General activity programs and all activities that are primarily social or diversional in nature will be denied because the professional skills of a qualified professional are not required.
Services that are related solely to specific employment opportunities, work skills or work settings are not reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of an illness or injury and are excluded from coverage by Section 1862(a)(1) of the Social Security Act.
97542© (wheelchair management training) – This procedure is medically necessary only when it requires the professional skills of a qualified professional, is designed to address specific needs of the patient and is part of an active treatment plan directed at a specific goal.
The patient or caregiver must have the capacity to learn from instructions.
Documentation of medical necessity must be available on request for an unusual frequency or duration of training sessions. Typically, up to four sessions within one month is sufficient.
When billing code 97542 for wheelchair propulsion training, documentation must relate the training to expected functional goals the patient can attain.
97545© (work hardening) and 97546© (work hardening add-on) – These services are related solely to specific work skills and will be denied as not medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury.
97750© (physical performance test) – This testing may be medically necessary for patients with neurological or musculoskeletal conditions when such tests are needed to formulate or evaluate a specific treatment plan or to determine a patient’s capacity.
The patient’s medical record must document the problem requiring tests, the specific tests performed and a measurement report.
Documentation must be submitted with the claim identifying the need for more than 30 minutes of time.
97755© (assistive technology assessment) – Assistive technology assessment to restore, augment or compensate for existing function or optimize functional tasks requires direct one-on-one contact with the qualified professional, and a written report, each 15 minutes.
97760© (orthotic management and training) – The medical record should document the distinct treatments rendered when orthotic training for a lower extremity is performed during the same treatment session as gait training (97116) or self-care/home management training (97535). It is unusual to require more than 30 minutes of static orthotics training. In some cases, dynamic training may require additional time.
Documentation supporting the medical necessity for additional time must be made available to Medicare upon request.
Generally, CPT code 97116 should not be reported with 97760. However, if a service represented by code 97760 was performed on an upper extremity and a service represented by code 97116© (gait training) was also performed, both codes may be billed with modifier 59 to denote separate anatomic sites.
97761© (prosthetic training) – The medical record should document the distinct goal(s) and service(s) rendered when prosthetic training for a lower extremity is performed during the same treatment session as gait training (97116) or self-care/home-management training (97535).
It is unusual to require more than 30 minutes of prosthetic training per day. Documentation supporting the medical necessity for additional time must be made available to Medicare upon request.
97762© (check-out for orthotic use) – These assessments may be medically necessary when a device is newly issued or there is a modification or reissue of the device.
These assessments may be medically necessary when patients experience loss of function directly related to the orthotic or prosthetic device (e.g., pain, skin breakdown or falls).
Documentation must be submitted with the claim identifying the need for more than 30 minutes of time.
97799 – For all claims submitted with an unlisted procedure code, a complete narrative description (detailing the service or procedure being performed) must be included on the claim. See TrailBlazer’s LCD, “Non-Covered Services – 4Z-18AB,” for non-covered services billed with CPT code 97799.
97001–97004 (PT and OT evaluations) – These services are separately billable under one of the three different types of practitioners referenced in the “Description” section of this policy. However, physicians may not report any of these codes in conjunction with an evaluation and management code performed on the same day.
For requirements on cardiac rehabilitation (CPT codes 93797 and 93798), see TrailBlazer’s LCD “Cardiac Rehabilitation – 4C-62.”
95992 – If canalith repositioning is performed by therapy personnel under a therapy plan of care, Medicare expects a physical therapist to perform the service.
Notice: This LCD imposes diagnosis limitations that support diagnosis to procedure code automated denials. However, services performed for any given diagnosis must meet all of the indications and limitations stated in this policy, the general requirements for medical necessity as stated in CMS payment policy manuals, any and all existing CMS national coverage determinations, and all Medicare payment rules.
As published in CMS IOM 100-08, Section 13.5.1, to be covered under Medicare, a service shall be reasonable and necessary. When appropriate, contractors shall describe the circumstances under which the proposed LCD for the service is considered reasonable and necessary under Section 1862(a)(1)(A). Contractors shall consider a service to be reasonable and necessary if the contractor determines that the service is:
- Safe and effective.
- Not experimental or investigational (exception: routine costs of qualifying clinical trial services with dates of service on or after September 19, 2000, which meet the requirements of the clinical trials NCD are considered reasonable and necessary).
- Appropriate, including the duration and frequency that is considered appropriate for the service, in terms of whether it is:
- Furnished in accordance with accepted standards of medical practice for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient’s condition or to improve the function of a malformed body member.
- Furnished in a setting appropriate to the patient’s medical needs and condition.
- Ordered and furnished by qualified personnel.
- One that meets, but does not exceed, the patient’s medical need.
- At least as beneficial as an existing and available medically appropriate alternative.
Bill Type Codes
Contractors may specify Bill Types to help providers identify those Bill Types typically used to report this service. Absence of a Bill Type does not guarantee that the policy does not apply to that Bill Type. Complete absence of all Bill Types indicates that coverage is not influenced by Bill Type and the policy should be assumed to apply equally to all claims.
12X, 13X, 18X, 21X, 22X, 23X, 71X, 74X, 75X, 85X
Revenue Codes
Contractors may specify Revenue Codes to help providers identify those Revenue Codes typically used to report this service. In most instances Revenue Codes are purely advisory; unless specified in the policy services reported under other Revenue Codes are equally subject to this coverage determination. Complete absence of all Revenue Codes indicates that coverage is not influenced by Revenue Code and the policy should be assumed to apply equally to all Revenue Codes.
Note: TrailBlazer has identified the Bill Type and Revenue Codes applicable for use with the CPT/HCPCS codes included in this LCD. Providers are reminded that not all CPT/HCPCS codes listed can be billed with all Bill Type and/or Revenue Codes listed. CPT/HCPCS codes are required to be billed with specific Bill Type and Revenue Codes. Providers are encouraged to refer to the CMS Internet-Only Manual (IOM) Pub. 100-04, Claims Processing Manual, for further guidance.
042X, 043X, 044X
CPT/HCPCS Codes
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Note: Providers are reminded to refer to the long descriptors of the CPT codes in their CPT book. The American Medical Association (AMA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) require the use of short CPT descriptors in policies published on the Web.
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G0283
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Electric stimulation other than wound
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95992©
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Canalith repositioning proc
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97001©
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Pt evaluation
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97002©
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Pt re-evaluation
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97003©
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Ot evaluation
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97004©
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Ot re-evaluation
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97012©
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Mechanical traction therapy
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97016©
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Vasopneumatic device therapy
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97018©
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Paraffin bath therapy
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97022©
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Whirlpool therapy
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97024©
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Diathermy treatment
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97028©
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Ultraviolet therapy
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97032©
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Electrical stimulation
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97034©
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Contrast bath therapy
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97035©
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Ultrasound therapy
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97036©
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Hydrotherapy
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97039©
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Physical therapy treatment
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97110©
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Therapeutic exercises
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97112©
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Neuromuscular re-education
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97113©
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Aquatic therapy/exercises
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97116©
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Gait training therapy
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97124©
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Massage therapy
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97139©
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Physical medicine procedure
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97140©
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Manual therapy
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97150©
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Group therapeutic procedures
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97530©
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Therapeutic activities
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97532©
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Cognitive skills development
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97533©
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Sensory integrative techniques
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97535©
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Self care mngment training
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97537©
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Community/work reintegration training
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97542©
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Wheelchair mngment training
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97545©
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Work hardening
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97546©
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Work hardening add-on
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97750©
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Physical performance test
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97755©
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Assistive technology assess
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97760©
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Orthotic mgmt and training
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97761©
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Prosthetic training
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97762©
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C/o for orthotic/prosth use
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97799©
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Physical medicine procedure
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ICD-9-CM Codes That Support Medical Necessity
See attached ICD-9 CM Coding List for description of “procedure to diagnosis” editing associated with this LCD.
(Link to ICD-9-CM codes) Additional: 4Y-26AB-R8
Limited Coverage Archive:
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See Precursor 4Y-22AB LCD for limited coverage: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Outpatient – 4Y-22AB-R8
Note: Limited coverage for CPT codes 97001, 97002, 97003, 97004, 97016, 97139, 97150, 97532, 97533 and 97755 is not being established at this time.
Note: Refer to TrailBlazer’s LCD, “Non-Covered Services – 4Z-18AB,” for non-covered services billed with CPT codes 97039 and/or 97799.
Diagnoses That Support Medical Necessity
N/A
ICD-9-CM Codes That DO NOT Support Medical Necessity
N/A
Diagnoses That DO NOT Support Medical Necessity
All diagnoses not listed in the “ICD-9-CM Codes That Support Medical Necessity” section of this LCD.
Documentation Requirements
- Documentation supporting the medical necessity should be legible, maintained in the patient’s medical record and made available to Medicare upon request. This documentation should establish the variables that influence the patient’s condition, especially those factors that influence the clinician’s decision to provide more services than are typical for the individual’s condition.
- Documentation should establish through objective measurements that the patient is making progress toward goals. Results of one of the following four measurements are recommended:
- National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS) by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.
- Patient Inquiry by Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes, Inc. (FOTO).
- Activity Measure – Post Acute Care (AM-PAC).
- OPTIMAL by Cedaron through the American Physical Therapy Association.
Note: If results of one of the four instruments listed above are not recorded, the medical record shall contain that information outlined in Pub.100-02, Chapter 15, Section 220.3.C.
- The medical record must identify the physician responsible for the general medical care.
- Therapy services must be furnished according to a written treatment plan determined by the physician or by the therapist who will provide the treatment after an appropriate assessment of the condition (illness or injury). All qualified professionals rendering therapy must document the appropriate history, examination, diagnosis, functional assessment, type of treatment, the body areas to be treated, the date therapy was initiated, and expected frequency and number of treatments.
- Outpatient therapy MUST be under the care of a Physician/NPP. An order (sometimes called a referral) for therapy service, documented in the medical record, provides evidence of both the need for care and that the patient is under the care of a physician. Payment is dependent on the certification of the plan of care rather than the order, but the use of an order is prudent to determine that a physician is involved in care and available to certify the plan.
- Certification is the physician’s/NPP’s approval of the plan of care. Certification requires a dated signature on the plan of care or some other document that indicates approval of the plan of care. A certification is timely when it is obtained within 30 calendar days of the initial treatment under that plan of care.
- Recertifications must be obtained within the duration of the initial plan of care or within 90 calendar days of the initial treatment under that plan, whichever is less.
- For CMS recommendations regarding progress reports and modifications to the plan of care, refer to the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Pub. 100-02, Chapter 15.
- When a verbal order is used to certify the plan of care a dated notation should be made in the patient’s medical record.
- Evidence considered necessary to justify delayed certification should be maintained by the supplier of services.
- Signature and professional identity of the person who established the plan and the date it was established must be recorded with the plan.
- Documentation should indicate the prognosis for potential restoration of function in a reasonable and generally predictable period of time or the need to establish a safe and effective maintenance program. Evaluation, re-evaluation and assessment documented in Progress Notes should describe objective measurements that, when compared, show improvement in function or decrease in severity or rationalization for an optimistic outlook to justify continued treatment.
- When both a modality/procedure and an evaluation service are billed, the evaluation may be reimbursed if the medical necessity for the evaluation is clearly documented. Allowed unit limitations (once per provider, per discipline, per date of service, per patient) by discipline for CPT codes included in this LCD are described in the “Utilization Guidelines” section below.
- When therapy services are billed as incident to a physician/NPP services, the requirement for direct supervision by the physician/NPP and other “incident to” requirements must be met, even though the service is provided by a licensed therapist who may perform the services unsupervised in other settings.
- Documentation supporting the medical necessity for multiple heating modalities (codes 97018, 97024, 97034) on the same date of service must be available for review and show that all were needed toward the restoration of function.
- A dated notation of a verbal order to certify the plan of care should be made in the patient’s medical record.
- Evidence considered necessary to justify delayed certification should be maintained by the supplier of services.
- Signature and professional identity of the person who established the plan and the date it was established must be recorded with the plan.
- The total number of timed minutes must be documented in the medical record.
The therapist must also be skilled in various massage techniques that can allow him to satisfy the customers' various needs.