A: These activities are performed one-on-one with the patient. This code represents a distinctly separate and unrelated procedure not considered inclusive of the CMT codes 98940-98943. If these activities are performed with multiple patients at once, the code 97150 would be used for group exercise.
A: These codes can certainly be provided to your patient, billed to an insurance carrier or the patient, without any cause for concern when performed as part of an active treatment episode and properly documented. Each payer may have specific guidelines or exclusions for these codes, but overall these services make up a vital portion of patient care in a chiropractic office, and when done appropriately, can be reimbursed without concern.
A: Many third-party payers will no longer cover intersegmental traction as traction. To be covered, most traction must include stabilizing or immobilizing the patient’s spine causing some resistance. It is critical that you read any third-party payer contracts and medical review policies for the specifics of coverage or non-coverage for this particular type of traction therapy.
A: Medicare considers CPT Code 97010 (hot/cold packs) a ‘bundled’ service. When a service is bundled, it means that the reimbursement for the code is built into or grouped with the reimbursement for another code. In this instance, it means services described by 97010 are not separately billable when rendered to a Medicare patient. It is considered a part of whatever primary service is rendered to the patient, and in the case of chiropractic that will be a CMT code (98940-98942). This is different than a ‘non-covered’ service, which can be charged to the patient. A bundled service cannot be charged to the patient, as it is being reimbursed within another code’s value.