CPT codes occupational therapy
Occupational therapy CPT codes are used for the purposes of documentation and billing. The 20 most common occupational therapy CPT codes and resources will be covered in this blog.
What are the CPT codes for OT therapy?
A CPT® (Current Procedural Terminology) code is a numerical code that is used to describe a variety of medical services. These five-digit numbers create a standardized format for healthcare providers and are helpful for documentation and billing.
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Because occupational therapists focus on helping clients meet goals that are meaningful to them, there are limitless interventions that can be used in occupational therapy. When selecting occupational therapy CPT codes for services, it is important to consider what the therapeutic goal is. Occupational therapy CPT codes are general so they can cover a variety of different interventions.
What are the most common occupational therapy CPT codes?
With the exception of group therapy (CPT Code 97150), occupational therapy CPT codes are based on time, most commonly in 15-minute units. Below are examples of codes that are commonly used for occupational therapy services.
Occupational therapy CPT code | Description |
|---|---|
Therapeutic procedure, one or more areas, each 15 minutes; therapeutic exercises to develop strength and endurance, range of motion, and flexibility | |
Neuromuscular reeducation of movement, balance, coordination, kinesthetic sense, posture, and/or proprioception for sitting and/or standing activities | |
Aquatic therapy with therapeutic exercises | |
Gait training (includes stair climbing) | |
Massage, including effleurage, petrissage, and/or tapotement (stroking, compression, percussion) | |
97129 | Therapeutic interventions that focus on cognitive function (e.g., attention, memory, reasoning, executive function, problem solving, and/or pragmatic functioning) and compensatory strategies to manage the performance of an activity (e.g., managing time or schedules, initiating, organizing, and sequencing tasks), direct (one-on-one) patient contact; initial 15 minutes |
Unlisted therapeutic procedure (specify) | |
Manual therapy techniques (e.g., mobilization/manipulation, manual lymphatic drainage, manual traction) 1 or more regions, each 15 minutes | |
Therapeutic procedure(s), group (2 or more). It is important to note that group therapy is not based on time and is reported for each member of the group) | |
Therapeutic activities, direct (one-on-one) patient contact (use of dynamic activities to improve functional performance), each 15 minutes | |
97633 | Sensory integrative techniques to enhance sensory processing and promote adaptive responses to environmental demands, direct (one-on-one) patient contact, each 15 minutes |
Self-care/home management training (e.g., activities of daily living [ADLs] and compensatory training, meal preparation, safety procedures, and instructions in use of assistive technology devices/adaptive equipment), direct one-on-one contact, each 15 minutes | |
97537 | Community/work reintegration training (e.g., shopping, transportation, money management, avocational activities and/or work environment/modification analysis, work task analysis, use of assistive technology device/adaptive equipment), direct one-on-one contact, each 15 minutes |
97542 | Wheelchair management (e.g., assessment, fitting, training), each 15 minutes |
97545 | Work hardening/conditioning; initial 2 hours |
97546 | Each additional hour (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure.) This code is designed to be used with 97545 |
Evaluation codes for occupational therapy
Occupational therapy evaluation codes are based on the level of client need. A therapist should use the low complexity code if the client has 1-3 performance deficits, a brief medical history, and an occupational profile if the assessment is problem-focused and the outcome has a limited number of treatment options.
As the complexity of the evaluation increases, the criteria to use each CPT® code changes. For a moderate complexity evaluation, a client may have 3-5 performance deficits and require a detailed assessment, medical history, and occupational profile. There may be several treatment options for this client and modifications may need to be given to administer the assessment.
A high complexity occupational therapy evaluation requires a comprehensive assessment, medical history, and occupational profile. This client has five or more performance deficits. Significant modification of an occupation-based assessment may be needed. When using the re-evaluation code, an assessment of changes in performance, medical status, and occupational profile must be documented.
The re-evaluation should include an updated plan of care.
- CPT CODE 97165 Occupational therapy evaluation, low complexity
- CPT CODE 97166 Occupational therapy evaluation, moderate complexity
- CPT CODE 97167 Occupational therapy evaluation, high complexity
Re-evaluation
- CPT CODE 97168 Occupational therapy re-evaluation
Billable minutes: 8-minute rule
Many CPT® codes are given in units of 15 minutes. In order to determine correct usage of units when a session is not exactly 15 minutes, CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) created an 8-minute rule. This 8-minute rule allows therapists to bill for a unit that lasts at least eight minutes. Some private payers also follow this guideline.
Check with your individual payers for more information.
- 8-22 minutes = 1 unit
- 23-37 minutes = 2 units
- 38-52 minutes = 3 units
- 53-57 minutes = 4 units
Use of occupational therapy CPT codes in your private practice
Occupational therapy CPT codes are a helpful way for clinicians to summarize the many services provided in a way that is reimbursable. It is important to verify with the payer that they will pay for the services rendered. Occupational therapy CPT codes are updated on a yearly basis and it is important to review any changes through the American Medical Association or your professional association.
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Resources
TheraPlatform is an all-in-one EHR, practice management, and teletherapy software built for therapists to help them save time on admin tasks. It offers a 30-day risk-free trial with no credit card required and supports different industries and sizes of practices, including occupational therapists in group and solo practices.
More resources
- Therapy resources and worksheets
- Therapy private practice courses
- Ultimate teletherapy ebook
- The Ultimate Insurance Billing Guide for Therapists
- The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Private Therapy Practice
- Insurance billing 101
- Practice management tools
Free video classes
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- Free mini video lessons to enhance your private practice
- 9 Admin tasks to automate in your private practice
