Medical Billing Forum

General Category => General Questions => : rachel June 30, 2009, 09:13:36 PM

: Billing cold laser treatment in chiropractic office
: rachel June 30, 2009, 09:13:36 PM
I have a question in regards to a relativly new treatment associated w/ chiropractic care - the cold laser...has anyone had any experiance with billing for this treatment?  The dr was vague in his description of the treatment so basically all I got was the "cold laser", sorry!

Any info in regards to this would be greatly appreciated!

Love this forum, it is so informative!

Rachel
: Re: Billing cold laser treatment in chiropractic office
: Michele July 01, 2009, 12:13:22 AM
Cold laser treatments have no cpt code assigned since they are so new and are considered experimental and investigational.  You should use the unlisted modality code.

Michele
: Re: Billing cold laser treatment in chiropractic office
: rachel July 01, 2009, 11:50:26 AM
Thank you for your response, as I am somewhat new to this, would you be able to advise where I can find the unspecified modality code?  I am unfamiliar with this term.  Since there is no cpt yet, reimbursement would be at the insurance co's discretion? I am assuming, would this be correct?

Thanks again, you guys are the best and I always learn something new from reading the forum, it is the best resource I have found, hands down!
: Re: Billing cold laser treatment in chiropractic office
: Michele July 02, 2009, 10:27:10 AM
I found the following info:

"When you perform laser therapy, use HCPCS code S8948 or if S-codes are not permitted (for instance, with Medicare claims), report CPT 97039 and document the time of performance."

If a treatment is new and hasn't been assigned a CPT most insurances will not cover it. (In my experience.) Some may.

Michele