Next Event: Telehealth Done Right: Compliance, Care Models, and Real-World Implementation
Date: October 14,2026
Using Ranges for Frequency and Duration
When developing an outpatient plan of care, can you use ranges for frequency and duration? Under Medicare for outpatient therapy, the Medicare program is
BCBS is Implementing MPPR
A BCBS insurer is implementing the multiple procedure payment reduction (MPPR) policy for outpatient therapy. Who is the insurer? What state is impacted? What outpatient therapy setting does this impact? The insurer is BCBS of
Aetna, Occupational Therapy, and Direct Access
On June 17, 2025, Aetna allowed direct access for physical therapy (PT) services. Aetna removed the requirement of a physician order for PT. Aetna also removed the requirement that a physician must sign the PT plan of care. Unfortunately, Aetna did not do the same for occupational therapy (OT) in June 2025. So, in 2026, what does Aetna require for outpatient OT services? Effective
Billing Speech and ABA Codes Same Day
Effective January 1, 2027, the American Medical Association (AMA) will delete CPT code 92507. 10 new codes are replacing 92507. The new codes are tentatively 92x0x – 92x9x. The AMA will release the 2027 CPT codes in September 2026, revealing the full 5-digits. Many pediatric practices provide speech therapy services and ABA services to a child on the same date of service. Will insurers still allow this when the new CPT codes come? 92507 and ABA Services Same Day New Speech Therapy Codes and ABA Services Same Day
MPPR and the New Speech Therapy CPT Codes
Effective January 1, 2027, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) will have 10 new CPT codes. The 10 codes will be time-based and will replace 92507. In addition, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed GSLPP to be reported for pediatric patients receiving speech therapy services. CMS has proposed which codes the multiple procedure payment reduction (MPPR) policy will apply to. To Which Codes Will MPPR Apply To? To Which Codes Will MPPR Not Apply To? Can You Give Some Examples of MPPR Impacting and Not Impacting Payment?
Proposed Medicare Payments for Outpatient Therapy in 2027
On July 14, 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year (CY) 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule. This proposed rule does have regulatory and reimbursement implications for outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy provided in all outpatient therapy settings. In this article, I will provide my members with the estimated payment amounts for calendar year 2027 for the more common CPT codes billed in outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy compared to the 2026 payment rate for each CPT code. For my examples, I used the national payment averages for each CPT
CMS Releases CY 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
On July 14, 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year (CY) 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule. This proposed rule does have regulatory and reimbursement implications for outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy provided in all outpatient therapy settings. In this article, I will inform you of what CMS is proposing on the following topics:
NCCI Edits Version 32.2 in Effect July 1, 2026
The National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) Edits Version 32.2 are in effect for dates of service July 1, 2026– September 30, 2026. NCCI edits are used in all outpatient therapy settings for original Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. In addition, some Medicare Advantage plans, commercial insurers, and workers compensation programs also utilize the NCCI edits. Gawenda Seminars & Consulting has created a NCCI Edit therapy specific reference sheet for both Medicare and Medicaid. These reference sheets will inform providers when modifier 59 is required on a CPT code on the claim form. In addition, the reference sheet will inform providers what combination of