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The CPT® Code 97032 refers to the application of a modality involving electrical stimulation to one or more areas of the body, specifically when performed with manual intervention. This procedure is typically conducted in a clinical setting by a physical therapist or a qualified physical therapy aide. The process utilizes devices such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), functional electrical stimulation (FES), or neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). During the procedure, electrodes are strategically placed over the targeted area to deliver electrical impulses. These impulses are adjusted to a predetermined strength and activated through the control unit of the device. The resulting electrical stimulation induces muscle contractions, which can effectively stimulate both muscle and nerve tissues. This stimulation is aimed at alleviating pain and facilitating the healing process. It is important to note that the application of electrical stimulation can be performed as a supervised modality, which may not necessitate direct patient contact, or it can be administered with constant attendance, requiring direct, one-on-one interaction with the patient. The specific code 97032 is utilized to report instances of electrical stimulation that involve constant attendance and direct patient contact, with billing occurring in 15-minute increments.
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The application of electrical stimulation using CPT® Code 97032 is indicated for various conditions that may benefit from muscle contraction and nerve stimulation. These indications include:
The procedure for applying electrical stimulation as described by CPT® Code 97032 involves several key steps:
After the application of electrical stimulation using CPT® Code 97032, patients may experience immediate relief from pain and improved muscle function. It is common for patients to be advised to rest the treated area and avoid strenuous activities for a short period. The therapist may recommend follow-up sessions based on the patient's progress and response to treatment. Additionally, patients should be informed about potential side effects, such as mild soreness or skin irritation at the electrode sites, which typically resolve quickly. Continuous assessment of the patient's condition is essential to determine the effectiveness of the treatment and to make any necessary adjustments in the rehabilitation plan.
| Short Descr | APPL MODALITY 1+ESTIM EA 15 | Medium Descr | APPL MODALITY 1+ AREAS ESTIM EA 15 MIN | Long Descr | Application of a modality to 1 or more areas; electrical stimulation (manual), each 15 minutes | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 7 - Physical Therapy Service, for which Payment may not be Made | Multiple Procedures (51) | 5 - Special payment adjustment rules on the RVU practice expense component of multiple therapy service applies... | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Service Paid under Fee Schedule or Payment System other than OPPS | Type of Service (TOS) | 1 - Medical Care | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P6C - Minor procedures - other (Medicare fee schedule) | MUE | 4 | CCS Clinical Classification | 213 - Physical therapy exercises, manipulation, and other procedures |
| GP | Services delivered under an outpatient physical therapy plan of care | GY | Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | CQ | Outpatient physical therapy services furnished in whole or in part by a physical therapist assistant | GO | Services delivered under an outpatient occupational therapy plan of care | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | 97 | Rehabilitative services: when a service or procedure that may be either habilitative or rehabilitative in nature is provided for rehabilitative purposes, the physician or other qualified health care professional may add modifier 97 to the service or procedure code to indicate that the service or procedure provided was a rehabilitative service. rehabilitative services help an individual keep, get back, or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired because the individual was sick, hurt, or disabled. | CO | Outpatient occupational therapy services furnished in whole or in part by an occupational therapy assistant | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | GX | Notice of liability issued, voluntary under payer policy | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | 52 | Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use). | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | GN | Services delivered under an outpatient speech language pathology plan of care | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | 25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional on the same day of the procedure or other service: it may be necessary to indicate that on the day a procedure or service identified by a cpt code was performed, the patient's condition required a significant, separately identifiable e/m service above and beyond the other service provided or beyond the usual preoperative and postoperative care associated with the procedure that was performed. a significant, separately identifiable e/m service is defined or substantiated by documentation that satisfies the relevant criteria for the respective e/m service to be reported (see evaluation and management services guidelines for instructions on determining level of e/m service). the e/m service may be prompted by the symptom or condition for which the procedure and/or service was provided. as such, different diagnoses are not required for reporting of the e/m services on the same date. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 25 to the appropriate level of e/m service. note: this modifier is not used to report an e/m service that resulted in a decision to perform surgery. see modifier 57 for significant, separately identifiable non-e/m services, see modifier 59. | 57 | Decision for surgery: an evaluation and management service that resulted in the initial decision to perform the surgery may be identified by adding modifier 57 to the appropriate level of e/m service. | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 79 | Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.) | 95 | Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system: synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that would be sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. modifier 95 may only be appended to the services listed in appendix p. appendix p is the list of cpt codes for services that are typically performed face-to-face, but may be rendered via a real-time (synchronous) interactive audio and video telecommunications system. | 96 | Habilitative services: when a service or procedure that may be either habilitative or rehabilitative in nature is provided for habilitative purposes, the physician or other qualified health care professional may add modifier 96 to the service or procedure code to indicate that the service or procedure provided was a habilitative service. habilitative services help an individual learn skills and functioning for daily living that the individual has not yet developed, and then keep and/or improve those learned skills. habilitative services also help an individual keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living. | AB | Audiology service furnished personally by an audiologist without a physician/npp order for non-acute hearing assessment unrelated to disequilibrium, or hearing aids, or examinations for the purpose of prescribing, fitting, or changing hearing aids; service may be performed once every 12 months, per beneficiary | AT | Acute treatment (this modifier should be used when reporting service 98940, 98941, 98942) | CA | Procedure payable only in the inpatient setting when performed emergently on an outpatient who expires prior to admission | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | E1 | Upper left, eyelid | FY | X-ray taken using computed radiography technology/cassette-based imaging | GB | Claim being re-submitted for payment because it is no longer covered under a global payment demonstration | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GH | Diagnostic mammogram converted from screening mammogram on same day | GQ | Via asynchronous telecommunications system | GR | This service was performed in whole or in part by a resident in a department of veterans affairs medical center or clinic, supervised in accordance with va policy | GU | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, routine notice | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | KK | Dmepos item subject to dmepos competitive bidding program number 2 | Q5 | Service furnished under a reciprocal billing arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | QC | Single channel monitoring | QG | Prescribed amount of stationary oxygen while at rest is greater than 4 liters per minute (lpm) | TF | Intermediate level of care | UB | Medicaid level of care 11, as defined by each state | X2 | Continuous/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians whose expertise is needed for the ongoing management of a chronic disease or a condition that needs to be managed and followed with no planned endpoint to the relationship; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to: a rheumatologist taking care of the patient's rheumatoid arthritis longitudinally but not providing general primary care services | X4 | Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner |
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| 2024-01-01 | Changed | Short and Medium Descriptions changed. Guideline changed. |
| 2010-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| 1995-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 1995. |
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