New Reporting Method for Acupuncture
Services to Begin in January 2005

This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:    Frankp@chiro.org

Thanks to the ACA for permission to reproduce this article!

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Beginning Jan. 1, 2005, there will be a new reporting method for acupuncture services. Effective on that date, CPT codes 97780 (acupuncture, one or more needles; without electrical stimulation) and 97781 (acupuncture, one or more needles; with electrical stimulation) will be deleted.

Four new codes have been developed for reporting acupuncture services. Like the deleted codes of 97780 and 97781, the new codes are separated into acupuncture services with and without electrical stimulation. However, in addition to these distinctions, the reporting of acupuncture services will now be reflected in 15-minute intervals, as well as a separate reporting method for the initial versus additional 15 minutes of treatment.

The codes themselves are outlined as such:

97810:   Acupuncture, one or more needles; without electrical stimulation, initial 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient.

97811:   Acupuncture, one or more needles; without electrical stimulation, each additional 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient, with reinsertion of needle(s) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure).

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

97814:   Acupuncture, one or more needles; with electrical stimulation, each additional 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient, with reinsertion of needle(s) (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure).

NOTE:   Acupuncture is reported based on 15-minute increments of personal (face-to-face) contact with the patient, not the duration of acupuncture needle(s) placement.

If no electrical stimulation is used during a 15-minute increment, use 97810, 97811. If electrical stimulation of any needle is used during a 15-minute increment, use 97813, 97814

Evaluation and management services may be reported separately, using modifier 25, if the patient's condition requires a significantly separately identifiable E/M service, above and beyond the usual pre-service and post-service work associated with acupuncture services. The time of the E/M service is not included in the time of the acupuncture service.

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Since 11-09-2004