Eli's Rehab Report

Call your payer to hash out reimbursement issues.

Enjoying those well-paying strapping codes may no longer be quite as enjoyable, thanks to a small change in CPT codes for 2010.

The American Medical Association deleted CPT code 29220 (Strapping; low back) for 2010 and are instructing providers to code 29799 (Unlisted procedure, casting or strapping) in its place, says Rick Gawenda, PT, director of finance for Kinetix Advanced Physical Therapy, Inc. and president/CEO of Gawenda Seminars & Consulting.

The problem: Getting paid for unlisted CPT codes is no walk in the park, not to mention, the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule does not list a value for this code.

What to do: Get on the phone with your Medicare contractor, as well as your other payers to see if they will reimburse 29799 and what you need to do to get reimbursed. "You may have to submit records or documentation, but reimbursement will be up to your carrier's discretion," Gawenda says. Meanwhile, ask your professional associations to go to bat for you over reimbursement for low back strapping.