Coding Policy
Use of CMT with Procedure Code 97124
The ACA has fielded numerous calls concerning insurance company denials of CPT® code 97124, Massage, when billed
the same day as a Chiropractic Manipulative Treatment (CMT) code, 98940-98943. An example of the reason given for
this denial is that massage is a part of CMT.
CPT® procedure code 97124 describes the work inherent in massage, which is a separate and distinct service from CMT
codes 98940-98943. CPT® code 97124 describes work including effleurage, petrissage and/or tapotement (stroking,
compression, percussion), each 15 minutes.
Massage (CPT® 97124) describes a service that is separate and distinct than those services described by Chiropractic
Manipulative Treatment, Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, and Manual Therapy Techniques. Massage, unlike those
techniques, is totally passive in nature. The patient did not participate in the procedure and the various massage
techniques are applied to the patient.
Massage is applied to a large area often crossing over several types of soft tissue and several areas of soft tissue, and is
used primarily for its restorative effects. In some cases massage may be used for stimulating soft tissue (tapotement).
The expected outcomes of massage are also more general in nature and may, in fact, be what the patient can tolerate at
the more acute stage of their treatment plans. This would include such goals as increasing circulation, decreasing muscle
soreness, and decreasing muscle spasm. The research available on massage techniques and their impact on the recovery
of muscle function following exercise as well as on anyone of the physiological factors related to the recovery process
shows that these techniques have very little impact. Its greatest impact is on the broad factors mentioned above in
terms of pain modulation, muscle tightness, and blood flow to the related tissues.
© 2015 American Chiropractic Association