Timed CPT codes

Understand how to calculate time to bill for time-based occupational therapy intervention codes

Many occupational therapy (OT) procedures are billed through timed codes that capture individual units of time spent performing those services in 15-minute increments. There are two primary methods for determining how to assign units to that time—the Medicare 8-minute rule and the AMA rule of 8s or Midpoint Rule. Individual payers will determine which method must be used when billing time for reimbursement. It is the responsibility of the OT practitioner to understand payer rules on coding and billing the OT services they provide.