© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Caregiver training is a specialized service designed to equip caregivers with the necessary skills and techniques to support patients with functional disabilities effectively. This training focuses on enhancing the caregiver's ability to assist patients in various aspects of daily living, which may include activities such as mobility, transfers, communication, and feeding. The training is conducted face-to-face, without the patient present, allowing caregivers to learn in a focused environment. During the initial 30 minutes of training, caregivers receive comprehensive instruction that may involve a combination of verbal guidance, visual aids, and practical demonstrations. The goal is to empower caregivers with the knowledge and skills to facilitate the patient's functional performance both at home and in the community. This includes understanding the patient's condition, implementing safety practices, and utilizing assistive devices appropriately. Caregivers are also encouraged to ask questions and express concerns, ensuring they feel confident in their ability to provide care. Additionally, they are informed about external resources available for further support in patient care. The CPT® Code 97550 specifically refers to this initial caregiver training session, while subsequent sessions or group training can be reported using additional codes.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The caregiver training described by CPT® Code 97550 is indicated for situations where caregivers need to learn effective strategies and techniques to assist patients with functional disabilities. This training is particularly relevant for caregivers who are responsible for supporting patients in various activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (iADLs). Specific indications for this training may include:
The procedure for caregiver training under CPT® Code 97550 involves several key steps that ensure caregivers receive comprehensive and effective instruction. The following outlines the procedural steps:
After the initial caregiver training session, it is expected that caregivers will begin to implement the techniques and strategies learned during the training in their daily interactions with the patient. Caregivers should continue to practice the skills acquired, focusing on enhancing the patient's functional performance and safety. Follow-up sessions may be necessary to reinforce learning and address any new challenges that arise. Caregivers are encouraged to maintain open communication with healthcare professionals to ensure ongoing support and guidance as they adapt to their caregiving roles. Additionally, caregivers should be aware of the importance of self-care and seek assistance when needed to prevent caregiver burnout.
| Short Descr | CAREGIVER TRAING 1ST 30 MIN | Medium Descr | CAREGIVER TRAINING STRATEGIES&TQ 1ST 30 MINUTES | Long Descr | Caregiver training in strategies and techniques to facilitate the patient's functional performance in the home or community (eg, activities of daily living [ADLs], instrumental ADLs [iADLs], transfers, mobility, communication, swallowing, feeding, problem solving, safety practices) (without the patient present), face to face; initial 30 minutes | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | 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 | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | none | MUE | 1 |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 97551 | Telehealth Service (Medicare) Add On Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC A Caregiver training in strategies and techniques to facilitate the patient's functional performance in the home or community (eg, activities of daily living [ADLs], instrumental ADLs [iADLs], transfers, mobility, communication, swallowing, feeding, problem solving, safety practices) (without the patient present), face to face; each additional 15 minutes (List separately in addition to code for primary service) |
| GO | Services delivered under an outpatient occupational therapy plan of care | GN | Services delivered under an outpatient speech language pathology plan of care | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | GP | Services delivered under an outpatient physical therapy plan of care | CO | Outpatient occupational therapy services furnished in whole or in part by an occupational therapy assistant | 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 | 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. | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 | Added | Code Added. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.