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Aquatic therapy with therapeutic exercises is a specialized treatment approach that leverages the unique properties of water to aid in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal function. This therapy utilizes the buoyancy of water, which reduces the impact on joints and allows for movement without the stress typically associated with weight-bearing activities. As a result, it is particularly beneficial for patients who experience limitations in joint movement and flexibility due to various conditions, including injuries or illnesses. The nonweight-bearing nature of aquatic therapy makes it an ideal option for individuals who may be severely debilitated, as it provides a safe environment to begin rehabilitation. Patients often start with aquatic therapy as an initial step, gradually transitioning to more traditional weight-bearing exercises as their strength and functional capabilities improve. It is important to note that CPT® Code 97113 is specifically designated for instances where the patient engages in direct, one-on-one contact with a licensed physical therapist or other qualified provider throughout the entire aquatic therapy session. This code is billed in increments of 15 minutes, reflecting the time spent in therapeutic activities within the aquatic environment.
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The indications for aquatic therapy with therapeutic exercises encompass a variety of conditions and symptoms that may benefit from this nonweight-bearing treatment modality. These include:
The procedure for aquatic therapy with therapeutic exercises involves several key steps that ensure effective treatment and patient safety. Each session is structured to maximize the benefits of the aquatic environment while adhering to therapeutic goals.
Following aquatic therapy sessions, patients are typically advised to engage in post-procedure care that may include hydration, rest, and gentle stretching to maintain flexibility. Providers may also recommend follow-up sessions based on the patient's progress and rehabilitation goals. It is important for patients to communicate any discomfort or concerns experienced during the therapy to their provider, as this feedback can inform future treatment adjustments. Additionally, patients may be encouraged to continue exercises at home, as appropriate, to reinforce the gains made during aquatic therapy and support ongoing recovery.
| Short Descr | AQUATIC THERAPY/EXERCISES | Medium Descr | THER PX 1/> AREAS EACH 15 MIN AQUA THER W/XERSS | Long Descr | Therapeutic procedure, 1 or more areas, each 15 minutes; aquatic therapy with therapeutic exercises | 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 | 6 | CCS Clinical Classification | 213 - Physical therapy exercises, manipulation, and other procedures |
| GP | Services delivered under an outpatient physical therapy plan of care | CQ | Outpatient physical therapy services furnished in whole or in part by a physical therapist assistant | 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. | GO | Services delivered under an outpatient occupational therapy plan of care | 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. | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | CO | Outpatient occupational therapy services furnished in whole or in part by an occupational therapy assistant | 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. | 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 | 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. | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | U5 | Medicaid level of care 5, as defined by each state | 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. | 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). | 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. | AT | Acute treatment (this modifier should be used when reporting service 98940, 98941, 98942) | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | CP | Adjunctive service related to a procedure assigned to a comprehensive ambulatory payment classification (c-apc) procedure, but reported on a different claim | GQ | Via asynchronous telecommunications system | GT | Via interactive audio and video telecommunication systems | KC | Replacement of special power wheelchair interface | KK | Dmepos item subject to dmepos competitive bidding program number 2 | KS | Glucose monitor supply for diabetic beneficiary not treated with insulin | KW | Dmepos item subject to dmepos competitive bidding program number 4 | MC | Ordering professional is not required to consult a clinical decision support mechanism due to the significant hardship exception of electronic health record or clinical decision support mechanism vendor issues | 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 | TL | Early intervention/individualized family service plan (ifsp) | UA | Medicaid level of care 10, as defined by each state | UB | Medicaid level of care 11, as defined by each state | 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 | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure |
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| 2010-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| 1995-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 1995. |
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