CPT code 97811 refers to an acupuncture treatment session using one or more needles, where no electrical stimulation is involved. CPT 97811 represents “Acupuncture, 1 or more needles; without electrical stimulation, each additional 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient, with insertion of needle(s) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure).”
Procedure Explanation:
This procedure involves inserting one or more acupuncture needles into certain points on a patient’s body. Each additional 15 minutes spent personally with the patient during the session is covered by this code. This is an add-on code used alongside a primary procedure, meaning it is billed in addition to the main acupuncture session.
Common Names:
- Acupuncture Follow-up
- Acupuncture Session
- Additional Acupuncture Time
Relative Value Units (RVU):
The RVUs associated with this code are 0.46.
How This Procedure Appears:
- Operating Room Schedule Name: Follow-up Acupuncture Session
- Surgical Consent Form Name: Acupuncture Additional Time
Typical Patients and Diagnoses:
This acupuncture procedure is commonly recommended for patients experiencing chronic pain, stress relief, or conditions like migraines. For example, someone dealing with long-term back pain or frequent tension headaches might undergo this kind of acupuncture treatment to help alleviate their symptoms.
Associated ICD-10 Codes:
- M54.5: This code relates to low back pain, often targeted in acupuncture for pain relief.
- G43.909: Represents unspecified migraine, without mention of intractable or status migrainosus, and patients afflicted might use acupuncture as a complementary treatment.
- F43.9: Covers stress-related disorders unspecified, where acupuncture is sometimes used to help manage stress symptoms.
Summary
In summary, code 97811 describes a segment of an acupuncture session without electrical stimulation, designed to cover personal time spent during the treatment. Typical ICD-10 codes associated with 97811 include M54.5 (low back pain) and G43.909 (unspecified migraine).
Disclaimer
This post is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. “CPT” and CPT Codes are registered trademarks of the American Medical Association. HCPCS codes are managed by Medicare and are not subject to copyright.