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Official Description

Physical performance test or measurement (eg, musculoskeletal, functional capacity), with written report, each 15 minutes

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The CPT® Code 97750 refers to a physical performance test or measurement, which is designed to provide a direct, objective, and quantitative assessment of an individual's functional capacity. This assessment is particularly valuable in evaluating the physical abilities of patients, especially the elderly and those who may be cognitively impaired. The test utilizes a variety of common household items, such as kidney beans, a teaspoon, an empty coffee can, a heavy book, and clothing items like a jacket or coat, to simulate tasks that reflect activities of daily living. The performance test can be structured using either a 7-item scale or a 9-item scale, where each item is scored on a scale from 0 to 4. The scoring system allows for a minimum possible score of 0 and a maximum score of 28 for the 7-item test and 36 for the 9-item test. A higher score indicates better performance and a lower likelihood of cognitive impairment. The evaluator plays a crucial role in monitoring the individual during the test, timing the activities, and ultimately providing a comprehensive written report detailing the findings of the assessment.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The physical performance test (PPT) is indicated for various conditions and situations where an assessment of functional capacity is necessary. The following are the explicitly provided indications for performing this test:

  • Elderly Individuals The test is often performed on elderly patients to evaluate their ability to perform daily activities and assess their overall functional capacity.
  • Cognitively Impaired Patients Individuals with cognitive impairments may require this assessment to determine their functional abilities and identify areas where assistance may be needed.

2. Procedure

The procedure for conducting the physical performance test involves several structured steps to ensure accurate assessment and scoring. Each step is designed to evaluate specific functional abilities of the individual being tested.

  • Step 1: Preparation Gather all necessary materials, including a stopwatch, pen, paper, 5 kidney beans, 1 teaspoon, an empty coffee can, a heavy book, a shelf, a jacket, sweater, or coat, and a penny. Ensure the testing area is safe and free from hazards.
  • Step 2: Explanation of the Test Explain the purpose and procedure of the test to the individual being assessed. Ensure they understand the tasks they will be performing and encourage them to do their best.
  • Step 3: Conducting the 7-Item Test Begin the assessment by having the individual perform tasks that include writing a sentence, simulating eating, turning 360 degrees, putting on and taking off a jacket, lifting a book and placing it on a shelf, picking up a penny from the floor, and walking 50 feet. Each task is timed and observed for performance quality.
  • Step 4: Conducting the 9-Item Test If applicable, include the additional tasks for the 9-item test, which involves stair climbing. This step assesses the individual's ability to navigate stairs, adding two more items to the evaluation.
  • Step 5: Scoring After the individual completes the tasks, score each item based on the established scale of 0 to 4. Calculate the total score, with a maximum of 28 for the 7-item test and 36 for the 9-item test.
  • Step 6: Documentation Document the findings, including the total score and any observations made during the test. Prepare a written report summarizing the results and any recommendations for further action or assistance.

3. Post-Procedure

After the physical performance test is completed, the evaluator should review the results with the individual, discussing the implications of the score and any areas of concern identified during the assessment. It is important to provide guidance on potential next steps, which may include referrals for further evaluation, recommendations for physical therapy, or suggestions for modifications to daily activities to enhance safety and independence. The written report should be filed appropriately for future reference and may be used to inform other healthcare providers involved in the individual's care.

Short Descr PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE TEST
Medium Descr PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE TEST/MEAS W/REPRT EA 15 MIN
Long Descr Physical performance test or measurement (eg, musculoskeletal, functional capacity), with written report, 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) M5D - Specialist - other
MUE 8
CCS Clinical Classification 212 - Diagnostic physical therapy
GP Services delivered under an outpatient physical therapy plan of care
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.
KX Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met
GO Services delivered under an outpatient occupational therapy plan of care
CQ Outpatient physical therapy services furnished in whole or in part by a physical therapist assistant
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
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
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.
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.
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
GA Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case
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.
CO Outpatient occupational therapy services furnished in whole or in part by an occupational therapy assistant
GN Services delivered under an outpatient speech language pathology plan of care
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.
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
XE Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
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.
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.)
U5 Medicaid level of care 5, as defined by each state
XP Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner
24 Unrelated evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during a postoperative period: the physician or other qualified health care professional may need to indicate that an evaluation and management service was performed during a postoperative period for a reason(s) unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 24 to the appropriate level of e/m service.
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.
26 Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number.
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).
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).
58 Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78.
AG Primary physician
AT Acute treatment (this modifier should be used when reporting service 98940, 98941, 98942)
FC Partial credit received for replaced device
GT Via interactive audio and video telecommunication systems
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
GX Notice of liability issued, voluntary under payer policy
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
KP First drug of a multiple drug unit dose formulation
KS Glucose monitor supply for diabetic beneficiary not treated with insulin
KY Dmepos item subject to dmepos competitive bidding program number 5
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
T3 Left foot, fourth digit
Date
Action
Notes
1995-01-01 Added First appearance in code book in 1995.
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