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Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Could New Acupuncture Codes Mean Reimbursement?

Published on Mon Oct 18, 2004

Neurology practices providing therapy services could possibly see more consistent reimbursement for acupuncture soon with the addition of two new face-to-face acupuncture codes:

97813 - Acupuncture, one or more needles, with electrical stimulation; initial 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient

+97814 - ... each additional 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient, with re-insertion of needle(s) (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure). Medicare and many other payers will not now recognize 97780 (Acupuncture, one or more needles; without electrical stimulation) or 97781 (... with electrical stimulation). The new codes - which specify more stringent physician involvement - could signal a change in policy toward acupuncture, although many providers are skeptical and are therefore taking a "wait and see" approach.

Keep watching Neurology Coding Alert for more information on 97813/97814 and all the changes to CPT for 2005.
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