How are the codes 97012 and 97014 differentiated in therapy?

How are the codes 97012 and 97014 differentiated in therapy?

• A. 97012 is for mechanical traction, while 97014 is for unattended electrical stimulation
• B. 97012 is for electrical stimulation, 97014 is for manual therapy
• C. 97012 is for ultrasound, 97014 is for traction
• D. 97012 is for manual therapy, 97014 is for ultrasound

Answer: (C)

In therapy coding you must match the code to the exact technique used in the session. These two codes represent two different modalities, so they are differentiated by the method rather than by where or for how long. One code is used when applying mechanical traction with a traction device, while the other is used for electrical stimulation to influence muscle or nerve activity (often set to run unattended). Ultrasound is a separate modality with its own code, not identified by these two numbers. The key point is to select the code that corresponds to the actual modality delivered in that treatment session.

In therapy coding you must match the code to the exact technique used in the session. These two codes represent two different modalities, so they are differentiated by the method rather than by where or for how long. One code is used when applying mechanical traction with a traction device, while the other is used for electrical stimulation to influence muscle or nerve activity (often set to run unattended). Ultrasound is a separate modality with its own code, not identified by these two numbers. The key point is to select the code that corresponds to the actual modality delivered in that treatment session.