(2022) List & Guidelines Of Chiropractic CPT Codes
Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine that emphasizes diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine, under the hypothesis that these disorders affect general health via the nervous system.
It is generally categorized as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Chiropractors monitor the patient’s progress periodically and adjust treatment accordingly.
Once the course of treatment is complete, the patient begins to feel active with increased flexibility and vitality for the muscles and ligaments that would subsequently improve the range of motion.
The chiropractic treatment also improves blood circulation and releases blockages to improve the immune system.
Some of the advanced modalities that includes TENS, Ultrasound, Traction etc would maximize the therapeutic benefits.
Chiropractic CPT Codes
Supervised modalities do not require direct individual contact with the health care provider and are eligible only once per date of service.
Underneath the CPT codes to report supervised modalities.
97010 CPT Code Description
Application of a modality to one or more areas (cold or hot packs).
97012 CPT Code Description
This code can be reported for mechanical traction and is defined as: “Application of a modality to one or more areas. Mechanical, traction.”
Read the billing guidelines for CPT 97122 here.
97014 CPT Code Description
This code can be billed for the application of a modality to one or more areas. Electrical stimulation.
97016 CPT Code Description
Report this code when a vasopneumatic device is applied during treatments to one area or multiple areas. It is defined as: “Application of a modality to one or more areas; vasopneumatic devices.”
Read the billing guidelines for CPT 97016 here.
97018 CPT Code Description
Parrafin bath (also known as hot wax treatment) is used for pain relief in chronic joint problems of the hands, wrists and feet. This code is defined as: “Application of a modality to one or more areas. Paraffin bath.”
The billing guidelines for CPT 97018 can be found here.
97022 CPT Code Description
Whirlpool is reported with CPT 97022 and is defined as: “Application of a modality to one or more areas. whirlpool”.
The billing guidelines for CPT 97022 can be found here..
97024 CPT Code Description
Diathermy modality is reported with CPT 97024 and is defined as: “Application of a modality to one or more areas; diathermy. For example microwave.”
Read more about the CPT 97024 billing guidelines here.
97026 CPT Code Description
Infrared therapy can reported CPT 97026 and is defined as: “Application of a modality to one or more areas. Infrared”.
Read more about the billing guidelines for CPT 97026 here.
97028 CPT Code Description
The ultraviolet modality is coded with CPT 97028. It is defined as: “Application of a modality to one or more areas. Ultraviolet.”
Read more about the billing guidelines for CPT 97028 here.
97032 CPT Code Description
Electrical stimulation can be coded with CPT 97032 and can only be billed when there is one on one contact with the patient and the professional. It is defined as: “Application of a modality to one or more areas; electrical stimulation (manual). Units of 15 minutes.”
Read more about the billing guidelines for CPT 97032 here.
97033 CPT Code Description
Iontophoresis can be coded with CPT 97033 and is defined as: “Application of a modality to one or more areas. Iontophoresis. Units of 15 minutes.
97034 CPT Code Description
Contrast baths are billed with CPT 97034 and is defined as: “Application of a modality to one or more areas. Contrast baths. Units of 15 minutes.“
Read more about the billing guidelines for CPT 97034 here.
97035 CPT Code Description
The ultrasound modality is coded with this CPT code and is defined as: “Application of a modality to one or more areas. Ultrasound. Units of 15 minutes.”
Read more about the billing guidelines for CPT 97035 here.
97036 CPT Code Description
Hubbard tank has to be reported with CPT 97036 and is defined as: “Application of a modality to one or more areas. Hubbard tank. Units of 15 minutes.”
Read more about the billing guidelines for CPT 97036 here.
97039 CPT Code Description
Unlisted modality can be coded with CPT 97039 and is defined as: “Unlisted modality (specify type and time if constant attendance).”
97110 CPT Code Description
Report this code for therapeutic exercises with the aim to develop endurance, range of motion, flexibility and strenght. CPT 97110 is defined as: “Therapeutic procedure. One or more areas. Units of 15 minutes. Therapeutic exercises to develop strength and endurance, range of motion and flexibility.”
Read more about the billing guidelines of CPT 97110 here.
97112 CPT Code Description
This code is used for neuromuscular reeducation of movement as therapeutic procedure and is defined as: “Therapeutic procedure, one or more areas, each 15 minutes; neuromuscular reeducation of movement, balance, coordination, kinesthetic sense, posture, and/or proprioception for sitting and/or standing activities”.
Read more about the biling guidelines for CPT 97112 here.
97113 CPT Code Description
Aquatic therapy is coded with CPT 97113 and defined as: “Therapeutic procedure. One or more areas. Units of 15 minutes. Aquatic therapy with therapeutic exercises.”
97116 CPT Code Description
Gait traning as a therapeutic procedure is billed with CPT 97116 and defined as: “Therapeutic procedure, 1 or more areas, each 15 minutes; gait training (includes stair climbing)
Read more about the billing guidelines for CPT 97116 here.
97124 CPT Code Description
Therapeutic massage can be billed with CPT 97124 and is defined as: “Therapeutic procedure of 1 or more areas. Units of 15 minutes. Massage, including effleurage, petrissage and/or tapotement (stroking, compression, percussion)”
Read more about the billing guidelines for CPT 97124 here.
97139 CPT Code Description
Unlisted therapeutic procedures are coded with CPT 97139 and defined as: “Unlisted therapeutic procedure (specify).”
97140 CPT Code Description
Manual therapy is coded with CPT 97140 and defined as: “Manual therapy techniques (for example, mobilization/ manipulation, manual lymphatic drainage, manual traction). One region or more. Billed in units of 15 minutes.”
Read more about the billing guidelines for CPT 97140 here.
97150 CPT Code Description
Therapeutic procedures for a group (2 or more) can be reported with CPT 97150. This code needs to be reported for every patient in the group. One on one contact is not required but constant attendance is. It is defined as: “Therapeutic procedure(s), group (2 or more individuals).”
Read more about the billing guidelines for CPT 97150 here.
97530 CPT Code Description
Therapeutic procedures with the aim to improve functional performance with dynamic activities is reported with CPT 97530. Modifier 59 can be used if two or more different activities have to reported with 15 minute intervals. It is defined as: “Therapeutic activities. Direct (one on one). Patient contact by the provider. Dynamic activities to improve functional performance). Units of 15 minutes.”
Read more about the billing guidelines for CPT 97530 here.
97532 CPT Code Description
CPT code 97532 requires one on one contact with the patient and can be reported for every 15 minutes.
Use the 97532 CPT code to report the development of cognitive skills and it includes compensatory trianing.
A patients progress should be reassest every two/three months and mesurable improvement needs to be proven.
CPT code 97532 is defined by the CPT manual as:
“Development of cognitive skills to improve attention and memory. Problem solving includes compensatory training by direct one on one patient contact by the provider. Units of 15 minutes.”
Read more about the billing guidelines of CPT 97532 here.
97533 CPT Code Description
Therapeutic procedures used to improve adaptive reponses to enviromental demens with the help of sensory intergrative techniques can be reported with CPT 97533.
It is billed in time units of 15 minutes and one to one contact is required. The CPT manual defines it as:
“Units of 15 minutes. Direct one-on one patient contact by the provider. Sensory integrative techniques to enhance sensory processing and promote adaptive responses to environmental demands.”
Read more about the billing guidelines of CPT 97533 here.
97535 CPT Code Description
This code can be reported for self care/home management for training for safety procedures, meal preparations, compensatory training, ADL (activities of daily living) and instructions in use of assistive technology devices/adaptive equipment.
Direct (on on one) contact is required and it is billed in units of 15 minutes. It is only considered medically necessary when professional skills are required.
The CPT manual defines this code as:
“Self-care/home management training (for example activities of daily living (ADL), meal preparation, safety procedures, compensatory training and instructions in use of assistive technology devices/adaptive equipment). Direct (one on one contact) by provider is required. It can be billed in units of 15 minutes.”
Read more about the billing guidelines of CPT 97535 here.
97537 CPT Code Description
Bill this code for community reintegration. It can be coded in conjuction with gait training, self-care/home management training or other therapeutic procedures.
CPT 97537 be billed in units of 15 minutes and one to one contact with the patient is required.
CPT code 97537 is defined as:
“Community work reintegration training. For example transportation, shopping, avocational activities, money managemen or work environment/modification analysi, work task analysis and the use of assistive technology device/adaptive equipment). Direct one on one contact by provider is required. Billed in unites of 15 minutes.”
Read more about the billing guidelines of CPT 97537 here.
97542 CPT Code Description
Wheelchair management is coded in units of 15 minutes and is used to evaluate the need for a wheelchair.
CPT code 97542 only medically necessary if a professional is needed and the patient must have the capacity to learn from instructions.
The 97542 CPT code is defined as:
“Wheelchair management. For example assessment, training & fitting. Units of 15 minutes.”
Read more about the billing guidelines of CPT 97542 here.
97545 CPT Code Description
CPT code 97545 is not covered by medicare and can be billed for work conditioning. Only the first two hours can be reported with this code.
The 97545 CPT code is defined as:
“Work hardening/conditioning. Initial 2 hours”.
Read more about the billing guidelines of CPT 97545 here.
97546 CPT Code Description
CPT code 97546 can be coded for eveyr additional hour of work hardening/conditioning once the initial 2 hours are reported with CPT 97545.
Make sure that it is listed separately in addition to 97545. CPT 97546 is defined as:
“Work hardening/conditioning. Each additional hour.”
Read more about the billing guidelines of CPT 97546 here.
G0281 CPT Code Description
The G0281 CPT code needs to be part of a therapy plan and is billed for electrical stimulation for stage III and stage IV pressure and if, after 30 days conventional, care venous stasis ulcers does not demonstrate signs of healing.
CPT code G0281 is defined as:
“Electrical stimulation. Unattended. One area or more. Chronic Stage III and Stage IV pressure ulcers and venous stasis ulcers not demonstrating measurable signs of healing after 30 days conventional care. Part of a therapy plan of care.”
Read more about the billing guidelines of CPT G0281 here.
G0282 CPT Code Description
Wound care with electrical stimulation is reported with CPT G0282.
CPT code G0282 is described as:
“Electrical stimulation. Unattended. One area or more. Wound care other than described in CPT G0281.”
G0283 CPT Code Description
The G0283 CPT code can be billed for electrical stimulation for indications other than wound care and is defined as:
“Electrical stimulation. Unattended. One or more areas. Indications other than wound care.”
Read more about the billing guidelines for CPT G0283 here.
