What is the 8 minute rule for CMS?

Asked by: Dakota Schowalter  |  Last update: August 21, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (10 votes)

The key feature of the 8-minute rule—and the origin of its namesake—is that a therapist must provide direct treatment for at least eight minutes to receive payment from Medicare for a time-based (or constant attendance) CPT code.

What is the 8-minute rule for Medicare billing?

Billing rules for the 8-minute rule. When Medicare reviews your claim, they will divide the total minutes for all timed services by 15. If the result of the equation leaves at least 8 minutes remaining before hitting another 15-minute increment, you can bill an extra unit.

How does the 8-minute rule work?

Medicare introduced the 8-minute rule in 1999 and fully adopted it in 2000. Put simply, the 8 minute rule dictates that healthcare providers must provide at least eight minutes of direct, face-to-face patient care to bill for one unit of a timed service. Anything less than that doesn't qualify as billable time.

What is the 8-minute rule for 97110?

The 97110 CPT code is a timed code, with each unit lasting 15 minutes. Physical therapists must actively work with the client one-on-one during the entire session. This rule, commonly known as the 8-minute rule, is a method employed to calculate how many units of time-based services a patient can bill for Medicare.

Does Medicaid use the 8-minute rule?

It is referred to as the 8-minute rule because that's the minimum length of therapy you must provide in order to receive reimbursement from Medicaid using a time-based treatment code.

Medicare 8 Minute Rule

41 related questions found

What is the therapy cap for Medicare 2024?

For CY 2024 this KX modifier threshold amount is: $2,330 for PT and SLP services combined, and. $2,330 for OT services.

Does the 72 hour rule apply to Medicaid?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provisions a three-day rule also called 72‐hour rule to crack down on frauds as a part of the False Claims Act.

What is the 8-minute rule in mental health?

Therapy billing operates on the 8-minute rule, where therapists bill in 8-minute increments. This means that if a therapist spends 38 minutes with a client, they would bill for five units (40 minutes). The 8-minute rule applies to psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and social workers.

What is the difference between 97110 and 97140?

The key difference lies in the type of therapy provided, with 97110 focusing on exercises and 97140 on hands-on techniques.

What is the rule of 8?

The rule allows practitioners to bill Medicare for one unit of service if its length is at least eight (but fewer than 22) minutes. A billable “unit” of service refers to the time interval for the service. Under the 8-minute rule, units of service consist of 15 minutes each.

Which insurances follow the 8-minute rule?

No; the 8-Minute Rule only applies to Medicare Part B services.

Do you have an 8-minute meaning?

Do you have 8 minutes? When someone is struggling or in need, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝟴 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 from a friend to hold space with them, to make them feel better 💜 The question is simply, "Do you have 8 minutes?" And that simply means 'I need you'.

What is the 2 2 2 rule in Medicare?

Introduced in the Fiscal Year 2014 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Final Rule, the two-midnight rule specifies that Medicare will pay for inpatient hospital admissions when a physician reasonably expects the patient's care to require a stay that crosses two midnights, and the medical record supports this ...

What is the golden rule in medical billing?

The golden rule of healthcare billing and coding departments is, “Do not code it or bill for it if it's not documented in the medical record.” Providers use clinical documentation to justify reimbursements to payers when a conflict with a claim arises.

What is the Medicare 85% rule?

Medicare pays for medical and surgical services provided by PAs at 85 percent of the physician fee schedule. This rate applies to all practice settings, including hospitals (inpatient, outpatient and emergency departments), nursing facilities, homes, offices and clinics. It also applies to first assisting at surgery.

How many units is 40 minutes?

40 minutes total treatment time. The 40 total treatment time falls within the range for 3 units (see chart). Each service was performed for at least 15 minutes and should be billed for at least 1 unit, but the total allows 3 units.

Does Medicare pay for 97140?

Medically necessary hands-on MLD is a covered Medicare service and is coded using CPT 97140 for manual therapy. There is no Medicare coverage for lymphedema compression bandage application as this is considered to be an unskilled service.

Is 97140 PT or OT?

In summary, CPT code 97140 allows therapists to bill for timed, hands-on, manual therapy as part of a patient's care plan. Manual therapy has a place in occupational therapy treatment plans as manual techniques can enhance functional range of motion and manage pain for improved participation in daily tasks.

What is the 8 minute rule for Medicare?

The 8-minute rule is a stipulation that allows you to bill Medicare insurance carries for one full unit if the service provided is between 8 and 22 minutes. As such, this can only apply to time-based CPT codes. But, the 8-minute rule doesn't apply to every time-based CPT code, or every situation.

What is the significance of 8 minutes?

Nurturing Bonds: Those 8 minutes can lay the groundwork for lasting relationships even in everyday interactions. Whether it's a quick check-in with a friend, a message to a colleague, or catching up with family, these small moments of connection strengthen the ties that bind us together.

Why is it called the 8 minute rule?

The 8-minute rule was introduced into the rehab therapy billing process in the year 2000 and is utilized by outpatient physical therapy services, allowing a physical therapy practitioner to bill for services as long as they see their patient for at least eight minutes, which would serve as one unit of therapeutic ...

What is the 3 day rule for CMS?

The 3-day rule requires the patient to have a medically necessary 3-consecutive-day inpatient hospital stay, which doesn't include the discharge day or pre-admission time in the emergency department (ED) or outpatient observation.

Can hospitals turn away Medicaid patients?

When uncovered costs become too great, physicians are ethically justified in refusing to accept Medicaid patients, according to Sade. “If they do accept such patients, however, they are ethically obligated to offer them the same care as they do for all of their patients,” Sade says.

What is the 24 hour rule for CMS?

FY 2014 Final IPPS/LTCH PPS Rule

We state that physicians should use a 24-hour or overnight period as a benchmark, that is, they should order admission for patients who are expected to need hospital care for 24 hours or overnight, or more, and treat other patients on an outpatient basis.