Be sure that your coding staff is up to date regarding all 2010 coding changes. Some areas of interest with regard to workers’ compensation are:

• Facet injection codes,
• Neurostimulator (removal and revision) codes,
• Prolonged time codes(99358 and 99359),
• Excision codes.

Even though the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided to disallow most consultation codes, MSF will allow consultation codes as before.

Revised Prolonged Time Codes

(99358 and 99359)

99358 – first hour (must be a minimum of 30 minutes).

99359 – each additional 30 minutes.

• No longer designated add-on.
• Prolonged before and after direct face to face.
• Time based –  must document total time spent.
• Prolonged service time may be on a different date as long as it related to ongoing care and a service that has occurred or will occur (i.e., extensive record review).
• Do not use for care plan oversight, team conference, online evaluation or anticoagulation management.

Massage Therapy – New Licensure

House Bill 662, the “Massage Therapy Licensing Act” will regulate the massage therapy profession and will become effective 7/1/10. Please see http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HB0662.htm for more information.

Codes billable to workers’ compensation for massage therapy are:

97124 – Massage, including effleurage, petrissage and/or tapotement (stroking, compression, percussion) each 15 minutes (each 15 minutes=1 unit). No more than three 15-minuteunits in one day can be billed without prior authorization. Time must be documented in the note (and should match the number of units billed on the CMS 1500 form).

97010 – Application of a modality to one or more areas; hot/cold packs. Services must be billed on a CMS 1500 form. Massage Therapy Providers must apply for NPI and taxonomy numbers prior to 7/1/10 as this information is required for reimbursement. If you have questions regarding filling out the CMS 1500 form, please call a member of the Medical Team.

For further information regarding the rules for Occupational and Physical Therapy specialty area in the ARM, visit the DLI website listed at the end of this Bulletin.