An accurate understanding of the CPT coding and billing process is critical for rehab professionals. 2026 CPT Coding & Billing for Physical & Occupational Therapy covers the correct use of CPT codes for evaluations, reevaluations, modalities, and interventions used by physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, and occupational therapy assistants in all outpatient settings including private practice, hospital-based outpatient departments (including critical access hospitals), rehabilitation agencies, comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities doing Part B, and home health agencies doing Part B in a patient’s home.
This course teaches participants which CPT codes are service-based versus time-based and explains the interventions included in each CPT code.
The course will review Medicare’s 8-minute rule and the definition of substantial time-based CPT codes per the American Medical Association (AMA) in order to bill correctly to insurance carriers who do not adhere to Medicare’s 8-minute rule. It discusses and reviews billing scenarios to ensure therapists accurately charge patients for services provided to both Medicare and non-Medicare insurance carriers.
This webinar is appropriate for physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, and occupational therapists who provide outpatient therapy services to pediatrics, adults, and geriatrics.
At the conclusion of this course presentation, participants will be able to:
- Describe & understand how to select the correct CPT code(s) based on the intervention(s) provided
- Recognize which CPT codes are service-based and which are time-based for billing purposes
- Differentiate between one-on-one interventions and group therapy
- List who can bill L codes to Medicare and what is included in the L code payment for orthotics
- Describe and understand Medicare’s “8-Minute Rule” to bill correctly and ensure correct reimbursement
- Define “each 15-minutes” and what is a substantial portion for non-Medicare insurance companies that do not apply Medicare’s “8-minute rule” (i.e. follow AMA guidelines)
- Be able to charge correctly for the services you provide under outpatient therapy benefits for Medicare and non-Medicare insurance carriers
Rick Gawenda, P.T., graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Gawenda is currently the President and founder of Gawenda Seminars & Consulting, Inc. He has provided valuable education and consulting to hospitals, rehabilitation agencies, private practices, nursing homes, and his peers in the areas of CPT and ICD-10 coding, billing, documentation, reimbursement, and compliance as it pertains to outpatient therapy services as well as denial management and the appeals process for Medicare denied claims. Mr. Gawenda’s website, https://gawendaseminars.com/, provides a valuable source of information on rehabilitation rules and regulations, coding, documentation, and reimbursement.
Mr. Gawenda is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and Michigan Physical Therapy Association (MPTA). Mr. Gawenda is the Past President of the Section on Health Policy & Administration of the APTA as well as Past President of the Michigan Association of Medical Rehabilitation Program Administrators.
Mr. Gawenda is also the author of “The How-To Manual for Rehab Documentation: A Complete Guide to Increasing Reimbursement and Reducing Denials” and “Coding and Billing For Outpatient Rehab Made Easy: Proper Use of CPT Codes, ICD-9 Codes and Modifiers”.
Physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, private practice owners and practice administrators, office managers at private practices, therapy billing companies, as well as directors, managers, supervisors and billers in skilled nursing facilities, hospital outpatient therapy departments, schools, rehabilitation agencies, home health agencies, and comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities.
This course is appropriate for physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, and occupational therapists who provide outpatient therapy services to pediatrics, adults, and geriatrics.
In addition to the expertise and advice presented during this online conference, you’ll also receive a handout (in PDF format) that will include related references.
This course has not been submitted to any state board or national organization for CEU approval. A certificate of attendance will be available upon completion of the course for each participant and may be adequate for credit in some states; you will need to contact your state licensing regulatory body to determine whether or not credit will be granted for this online conference. We provide no additional information for CEU approval.
This online course was approximately 2.5 hours (including Q&A).
There are no refunds for no shows or any other reasons once you register and payment is received. We are not responsible for organization firewalls or computer software issues that may interfere and/or prohibit your connection to the webinar portion of the presentation.
Venue system requirements:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 7+, Mozilla Firefox 2.5+, Safari, or Chrome
- 1024 x 768 screen resolution
- Stable Internet connection, DSL or above
- Wired Internet connection; wireless is not recommended
- Flash Player 9 or higher
- Disable pop-up blockers
- Computer speakers for participants
Note: Android Smart Phones (i.e. iPhone) are not compatible.
In order to ensure a successful connection to this online course, please take a moment to conduct a system test by clicking this link: http://web.telspan.com/systemcheck
***Application Sharing does not need to be operational to view this course recording link.
*** This COURSE RECORDING and HANDOUTS is not to be distributed outside of your organization. If you have a larger organization and have multiple locations, then please contact us here for pricing.
