CPT 97010 reports the application of hot and/or cold packs, a physical medicine modality used to prepare tissue for or recover from therapeutic exercise.
When to use 97010
Use 97010 as a modality, distinct from timed therapeutic procedures such as 97110. Modalities follow different attendance and billing rules than timed procedures.
How to bill it
Report per the payer’s rules; note that modalities are often subject to bundling and attendance distinctions.
Common pitfalls
- Treating 97010 like a timed procedure with the 8-minute rule.
- Assuming modalities are always separately reimbursable.
Frequently asked questions
Is 97010 a timed procedure?
No. 97010 is a modality (hot/cold packs), billed under rules that differ from timed therapeutic procedures.
Is 97010 always separately reimbursable?
Not necessarily. Many payers bundle modalities into the therapeutic procedure, so reimbursement varies.