SHOULD YOU BILL INSURANCE FOR THERAPEUTIC LIGHT THERAPY?

There are several options for medical providers to consider when providing therapeutic light therapy and its cost. They include cash-only, insurance, and selling units for at-home use. When treating patients, it is important to present a treatment plan that is feasible, emphasizing the value of the service. Since the treatments may not be covered by insurance, selling units for home use can be a viable option, without the insurance hassles. Units would be purchased at wholesale, and sold at retail cost, which can be beneficial for patients with chronic conditions.

Attended or Unattended?
When using insurance, consider if it is attended or unattended, requires a time component, and if it requires more documentation (ends in a “9”). For a list of codes and how to file for payment, check page 62 and 63 of the article here(link). Before using any of the codes to describe light therapy, you should check with your participating carriers. Timed CPT codes require start and stop times. Keep in mind light therapy is generally 20 minutes or greater. It is important to note Medicare is not a good option.

The Takeaway
The takeaway is most health care providers charge cash for in-office light therapy procedures, but a number of CPT codes are also available for DCs to consider.

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Learn more in the full article re-published from CHIROPRACTIC ECONOMICS  below -