(2023) How To Bill Cold Laser Therapy – CPT Code 97039 Description, Guidelines & Reimbursement

Cold laser therapy can be billed with CPT code 97039. The description, billing guidelines, and reimbursement can be found below.

CPT 97039 | Description

The CPT code for old laser therapy would be reported using CPT 97039 (Unlisted modality (specify type and time if constant attendance).

Billing Guidelines For CPT Code 97039

As per the code descriptor, document the time of performance. The service can be reported in multiple units where sufficient time is documented.

Many carriers challenge services reported using an unlisted code such as CPT code 97039 and may deny payment because laser therapy is experimental/investigational.

Reimbursement For The 97039 CPT Code

Such a determination permits you to bill the patient directly and lowers the risk that the carrier will demand a future refund because the service was misrepresented using CPT code 97026 (Application of a modality to 1 or more areas; infrared).

If the carrier has adopted HCPCS Level II private payer S codes into its code set, you would instead report cold laser therapy requiring constant attendance using CPT S8948 (Application of a modality (requiring constant provider attendance) to one or more areas; low-level laser; each 15 minutes).