CPT codes billed by outpatient therapy providers are either time-based or un-timed (service-based). A question I am often asked is if there is a minimum amount of time I must spend providing an un-timed service. Typically, my answer is “no, but time does play a factor in the reimbursement amount”. What do I mean by that answer? In this article, I will answer the following questions:

Beginning with dates of service on and after January 1, 2027, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) will have 10 new CPT codes to report for speech therapy services. The descriptors for each of the codes have been released. In this article, I will provide the descriptors for each of the codes as well as the proposed work relative value units (RVUs). Codes and Descriptors

On October 31, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule. At that time, we learned the payment rates for the allowed amount for each CPT code reimbursed under the MPFS. This includes outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy services including remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM). For practices and organizations that have implemented RTM, most monitor the musculoskeletal system. This would be CPT codes 98977 and 98985. CPT code 98985 is a new RTM code for 2026 to monitor the musculoskeletal system 2-15 days in a 30-day period

Beginning with dates of service on and after January 1, 2027, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) will have 10 new CPT codes to report for speech therapy services. In this article, I will answer the following questions:

UnitedHealthcare has announced they will begin enforcing the application of Excludes 1 guidelines across all claim types to include outpatient and professional claim types. This will include outpatient therapy services. To learn about Excludes 1 and diagnosis coding, read this article. The effective date of UHC enforcing the application of Excludes 1 guidelines is

The current Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) form expired on January 31, 2026. What should providers do if they must issue an ABN to an original Medicare beneficiary after this date? CMS is currently

What is the current status of outpatient therapy delivered via telehealth to Medicare beneficiaries beginning February 1, 2026? Congress has

North Dakota (ND) Medicaid is updating their physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech language therapy policies. Updated policies include the following: