

See also: The Right Time for Billing Codes
#Inqscribe time codes not jumping to correct time code
Ultimately, the decision to bill a code depends on the clinician’s judgement and documentation to support that the time spent with the patient was medically necessary and clinically appropriate for that patient on that day. However, there are no hard and fast rules regarding time "minimums" for untimed codes. These underlying "typical" times may be used as guidelines.

These typical times are located in what's called the Physician Time File, which is publicly available through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). These times are derived from surveys of speech-language pathologists that ASHA conducts in conjunction with the American Medical Association. However, untimed codes do have any underlying "typical" time associated with each code. Ultimately, it will come down to the judgment of the clinician and whether he/she feels they can make progress with the patient during the evaluation or treatment session, whatever the amount of time may be. ASHA would have to present evidence that the services are different in terms of the time it takes to perform the service, the level of technical skill, the physical effort, the required mental effort and judgment, and the stress due to the potential risk to the patient.Īre there any guidelines or data available on what constitutes the typical time allowed for a speech-language pathology session?ĭetermining what might be considered a "typical" for an untimed code is difficult. If the treatment code (92507) is revised, the development of additional treatment codes that could address complexity of services would be considered at that time. Why can't "complexity" of care be accounted for in the codes? Cognitive skills development ( G0515, each 15 minutes).Standardized cognitive performance testing (96125, per hour).

Assessment of aphasia (96105, per hour).Evaluation of auditory rehabilitation status (92626, first hour 92627, each additional 30 minutes).Evaluation for speech-generating device (92607, first hour 92608, each additional 30 minutes).Evaluation for non-speech generating device (92605, first hour 92618, each additional 30 minutes).Īre there any timed codes that SLPs can use? A complete list of the CPT codes for speech-language pathology services is available in the ASHA Medicare Fee Schedule or the ASHA Model Superbill for Speech-Language Pathology Practice. If no time is noted in the descriptor, each code counts as one session. Most speech-language pathology codes do not have time units assigned to them, such as 92507 (speech-language treatment). Can I bill an untimed code more than once per day?Ĭan procedure codes be billed by units of time?.If I spend 20 minutes treating a patient and bill the cognitive therapy CPT code G0515 (each 15 minutes), can I bill two units?.Is there a way to be reimbursed an extra amount in recognition of the inordinate amount of time? Occasionally, I must spend an extremely long period of time rendering an evaluation or treatment session.Why don't SLPs have time units like PT/OT codes?.Are there any guidelines or data available on what constitutes the typical time allowed for a speech-language pathology session?.Why can't "complexity" of care be accounted for in the codes?.Are there any timed codes that SLPs can use?.Can CPT procedure codes for speech-language treatment be billed by units of time?.
