Article from PREFERRED Network News (PNN) October 2003, A PREFERRED Therapy Providers Newsletter

CMS Adopts APTA Coding Change

Physical therapists billing Medicare will no longer have to use a modifier when physical performance tests and measurements are performed during the same treatment session as therapeutic procedures, under new coding edit issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In response to comments submitted by APTA, CMS revised the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) fourth-quarter update released Wednesday to eliminate the required use of a 59 modifier when the 97750 code for tests and measures is billed during the same session as therapeutic procedures in the 97110 to 97124 codes. The complete fourth quarter NCCI edits are available on CMS' Web site at http://cms.hhs.gov/physicians/cciedits/default.asp [source: apta.org 10/3/03 ]