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Orthopedic Coding Alert

READER QUESTION ~ Count TENS As Untimed

Published on Mon Jan 01, 2007

Question: Our physical therapist used TENS application but did not document how much time she spent using it. Is 64550 an untimed procedure? I would assume by its nature that it is timed, but I want to be sure before I bill it.

Pennsylvania Subscriber Answer: Actually, 64550 (Application of surface [transcutaneous] neurostimulator) is untimed. Why: There are no time specifications listed in the code's descriptor.
 
Just remember, CMS clarified in Transmittal 1019 that you may not bill more than one unit per day of an untimed code. This means that if a therapist applies TENS at more than one anatomical site, you are limited to billing 64550 just once.
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