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04/01/24

Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain

Since January 21, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) covers acupuncture for chronic low back pain for up to 12 visits in 90 days. If patients are demonstrating improvement, CMS will cover an additional 8 visits for a total of 20 visits annually. Beginning with dates of service on and after January 1, 2024, CMS will

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11/09/21

2022 CPT Coding and Billing for Physical & Occupational Therapy

This 2.5-hour webinar will teach participants what CPT code to bill dependent upon their intent and documentation in the medical record as well as discuss the 2022 new CPT codes related to remote therapeutic monitoring. The webinar will provide case scenarios to teach participants how to bill correctly to the Medicare program as well as non-Medicare insurance carriers. Click below to learn more about the course objectives or to purchase by credit card or check.  

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06/08/20

Does Medicare Now Pay for Dry Needling

Effective January 1, 2020, there were 2 new CPT codes to describe dry needling. They are as follows: 20560 – Needle insertion(s) without injection(s), 1 or 2 muscle(s) 20561 – Needle insertion(s) without injection(s), 3 or more muscle(s) Unfortunately, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave these 2 CPT codes a non-covered status for payment under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). This meant that if a physical therapist performed dry needling on a Medicare beneficiary who had traditional Medicare as their insurance, CMS would not pay for this service. Since dry needling is non-covered by CMS, this

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02/18/20

Can Dry Needling Be Billed as Electrical Stimulation?

Since in calendar year 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has decided that the new 2 dry needling CPT codes are non-covered, physical therapists want to know if there are other CPT codes that could possibly be billed instead and be paid by the Medicare program and other insurance carriers if performing needle insertion. QuestionIf I provide electrical stimulation through the needles, can I bill for this as unattended electrical stimulation or manual electrical stimulation? AnswerThe simple and straightforward answer is For additional information on dry needling, read “Will CMS Pay for Dry Needling in 2020” and also

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11/18/19

What are the New CPT Codes for 2020

In calendar year (CY) 2020, there will be 6 new CPT codes applicable to outpatient therapy services. The AMA also released 3 new Level II HCPCS codes that may or may not be applicable to physical therapists, occupational therapists and/or speech-language pathologists. In addition, there are 5 CPT codes and 1 Level II code being deleted in 2020. Question What are the new CPT codes for calendar year 2020 applicable to outpatient therapy services? Answer Question Will the Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR) policy apply to the new CPT codes? Answer Question What are the three new Level II HCPCS codes

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11/04/19

Will CMS Pay for Dry Needling in 2020

On January 1, 2020, there will be 2 new CPT codes to report needle insertion(s) (i.e. dry needling) for qualified healthcare professionals, such as physical therapists, who provide dry needling where allowed by state law and state practice act. Now, just because we have the new CPT codes that describe dry needling does not mean the Medicare program and other insurance carriers have to pay for them. In this article, I will provide the 2 new CPT codes and also tell you if the Medicare program is going to pay for the codes. The 2 new CPT codes that describe

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11/01/19

CMS Releases 2020 Final Rule for Medicare Services

On November 1, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rule for services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) program for calendar year (CY) 2020. Highlights of the final rule include, but are not limited to, the following: 2020 Medicare Conversion Factor 2020 Annual Therapy Threshold Dollar Amount Dry Needling CPT Codes CO/CQ Documentation Requirements New PTA and OTA Modifiers Effective January 1, 2020 Discipline Specific Therapy Modifiers (GO and GN) Biofeedback CPT Codes Cognitive Function Interventions Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Here we go! 2020 Conversion

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09/03/19

AMA Releases Calendar Year 2020 CPT Codes

The American Medical Association (AMA) has released the calendar year (CY) 2020 CPT codes and there are at least 6 new CPT codes and 6 deleted CPT codes that will impact physical therapists, occupational therapists and/or speech-language pathologists in CY 2020. The new CPT codes will become effective with dates of service on and after January 1, 2020 and be valid for dates of service up to an including December 31, 2020. In addition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to change 2 existing CPT codes to an active status meaning that CMS will assign work

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