Can a massage therapist bill for 97124?
Asked by: Salvatore McKenzie | Last update: November 20, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (63 votes)
Who can bill a CPT code 97124?
Who can use CPT Code 97124? Physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, and other licensed practitioners can use CPT 97124 when performing therapeutic massage as part of a treatment plan. Effleurage: Light, gliding strokes to warm up muscles.
What codes can a massage therapist bill?
The most common 3 codes are: 97010 Hot/Cold Packs, 97124 Massage Therapy, and 97140 Manual Therapy.
Does massage therapy count as medical expense?
For instance, if your doctor prescribes massages to help recover from an injury or manage a chronic condition, you may be able to include these costs in your medical expense deductions. Keep in mind that the IRS requires that these expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income before you can claim them.
Can a massage therapist bill insurance Medicare?
At present Medicare does not pay for massage treatments, but in general, there are three main sources of insurance billing for massage therapy, these may vary from state to state: Major medical plans (Blue Cross, Blue Shield, United, Aetna, Cigna, etc.)
Medicare Guidelines for Massage Therapy as A Covered Service 97124 #MCRHybrid
What type of insurance should a massage therapist have?
What Kinds of Insurance Are the Most Important for Licensed Massage Therapists to Have? The two main types of coverage licensed massage therapists should have are general and professional liability insurance. General liability insurance covers damages caused by your operations – think slip and falls!
How much is the CPT code 97124?
97124 $160/hour Massage Therapy Massage is the application of systematic manipulation to the soft tissues of the body for therapeutic purposes. 98940 $55 Chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT); Spinal, 1-2 regions. 98941 $70 Chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT); Spinal, 3-4 regions.
How to get massage therapy covered by insurance?
A referral from your doctor can help you get insurance coverage for massage therapy. It can also be established as an important health benefit. Massage therapists are not allowed to diagnose medical conditions. Therefore, a prescription or referral from a physician is required for reimbursement.
Why isn't massage therapy covered by insurance?
Massage therapy is a supplementary and alternative medical treatment (CAM). When it comes to certain medical illnesses and situations, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can be utilized to supplement mainstream medical therapy by doctors. As a complementary treatment, not all insurances cover massage therapy.
What is the standard deduction for 2024?
Standard deduction 2024
The standard deduction for 2024 (tax returns filed in 2025) is $14,600 for single filers and married people filing separately, $21,900 for heads of household, and $29,200 for joint filers and surviving spouses.
What is the principal business code for massage therapy?
621399 - Offices of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners.
Can you bill 97140 and 97112 together?
Yes, you can bill 97140 and 97012 together. However, it's important to note that billing these codes together requires the use of modifier 59 to indicate that the services were separate and distinct.
Who can bill therapy codes?
All mental health professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers delivering psychotherapy services use the same applicable CPT® codes when billing clients and filing health insurance claims with third-party payers, including Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance carriers.
Can you bill 98940 and 97124 together?
If you bill manual therapy techniques (97140), massage (97124), or neuromuscular reeducation (97112) on the same date of service as CMT (98940-98943), and do not append the 59 modifier, YOU WILL NOT BE PAID. (However, PLEASE NOTE, to bill them separately; they must be applied to separate body regions.
Can a physical therapist bill for massage therapy?
Therapeutic Massage
It's always important to check your state practice act, but in most cases, physical therapists can bill CPT code 97124 (massage therapy) when they provide therapeutic massage.
Will Medicaid pay for massage therapy?
The government calls these Alternative and Complementary Medicine. The ACA doesn't see them as essential benefits. So, it's hard to claim massage therapy through Medicaid and insurance. You'll likely need to pay the full cost.
What is the insurance code for massage therapy?
97124 (Massage therapy): Describes work including effleurage, petrissage, and/or tapotement (stroking, compression, percussion) for every 15 minutes.
Can you practice massage without insurance?
Small business insurance is essential for massage therapists. Each state has specific massage therapist insurance requirements to operate a massage therapy business, and you should check your state's requirements when considering various insurance policies.
Is massage therapy covered by insurance Medicare?
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) offers coverage for massage therapy, depending on certain conditions. However, Original Medicare does not cover massage therapy. A person enrolled in an Advantage plan that includes massage therapy will get treatment coverage under certain conditions.
Is CPT code 97124 reimbursement?
CPT 97124 can be reported and reimbursed when massage therapy, including effleurage, petrissage, and/or tapotement (stroking, compression, and/or percussion) is medically necessary and at least one of the following conditions is present and documented.
What is the CPT code for massage therapy 90 minutes?
Answer: The CPT code for massage is 97124 which is a timed-based service which is reported in 15 minute increments. There is only one code for all massage (97124) so longer massage services would simply be reported using the proper number of units (e.g., 60 minutes = 4 units).
Can massages be covered by HSA?
Your HSA can pay for massage therapy, though you'll likely need a letter of medical necessity (LMN) from your doctor. An LMN states what condition the treatment is for, how many sessions you need, and any other relevant details. An HSA may also be used on alternative or holistic treatments, such as: Massage therapy.
How many units can you bill for 97124?
CMS 8-Minute Rule:
A minimum of 8 minutes of direct contact with the patient must be provided for a single unit of 97124 to be billed. The pattern remains the same for treatment times of more than 2 hours .
What is the difference between 97124 and 97140?
97124: Therapeutic procedure, one or more areas, each 15 minutes; massage, including effleurage, petrissage and/or tapotement (stroking, compression, percussion). 97140: Manual therapy techniques (e.g., mobilization/manipulation, manual lymphatic drainage, manual traction), one or more regions, each 15 minutes.
What is the billing code for lymphatic drainage massage?
CPT® code 97140: Manual therapy techniques, 1 or more regions, each 15 minutes (Mobilization/manipulation, manual lymphatic drainage, manual traction) As the authority on the CPT® code set, the AMA is providing the top-searched codes to help remove obstacles and burdens that interfere with patient care.