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CPT 97037: Postoperative Therapeutic Laser for Pain Reduction

CPT code 97037 represents the directed application of a therapeutic laser to one or more locations for postoperative pain reduction. As a modality used in rehabilitation and pain management, this code is relevant to providers delivering postoperative care in outpatient and ambulatory settings. Nationally, the use of modality codes like 97037 reflects efforts to manage surgical pain non-invasively and to support functional recovery.

Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for postoperative laser therapy, common coding relationships and related therapy codes, and payer coverage considerations. The publication summarizes typical sites of service and service type, presents common associated diagnoses encountered with this service, and lists related therapeutic procedure codes that are often billed alongside or in the same episode of care.

This resource is intended for clinicians, billing staff, and policy analysts seeking a concise reference on the clinical purpose and billing context of CPT code 97037. Data not provided in the input are identified as unavailable; the content focuses on description, service context, relevant diagnoses, and related procedure codes to support coding and administrative workflows.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 97037 describes the directed use of a therapeutic laser to one or more locations to reduce pain after surgery. This service is a postoperative pain management modality delivered by a qualified provider.

Service type: Postoperative therapeutic laser application
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic or ambulatory care setting where postoperative rehabilitation or pain-modulating modalities are provided

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

National commercial rates for CPT 97037 center around BUCA’s average commercial rate of $97.4, which serves as a practical mid-market indicator. Blue Cross Blue Shield exhibits a relatively wide middle spread (P75 $116.90 minus P25 $41.70 = $75.20), reflecting greater variability in negotiated mid-range rates. Aetna shows the largest dispersion between its P75 and P25 (P75 $212.00 minus P25 $85.00 = $127.00), indicating substantial variability in higher-end contract pricing.

Cigna displays the tightest middle distribution with a P75–P25 range of $10.00 (P75 $75.00 minus P25 $65.00), suggesting consistent commercial pricing across contracts. BUCA’s interquartile spread is $69.70 (P75 $130.20 minus P25 $58.30), placing it between Cigna and the more variable Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield levels.

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CPT 97037: Postoperative Therapeutic Laser for Pain Reduction

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Postoperative therapeutic laser application
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic or ambulatory care setting where postoperative rehabilitation or pain-modulating modalities are provided

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 54-year-old patient presents six weeks after lumbar microdiscectomy with persistent focal posterior-lateral incisional and radicular pain despite standard postoperative care. The orthopedic surgeon refers the patient to outpatient rehabilitation for adjunctive postoperative pain management. In the clinic, a licensed Physical Therapist evaluates the surgical site, pain distribution, and functional limitations. After assessment, the provider determines that targeted high-intensity or low-level laser therapy directed to one or more anatomical locations may reduce postoperative pain and facilitate participation in therapeutic exercises. The procedure is performed in an outpatient therapy treatment room or ambulatory surgical/rehabilitation center. Typical workflow: pre-procedure assessment and documentation of surgical history and pain scores; informed consent and explanation of laser parameters; placement of the laser to one or more treatment sites for the prescribed duration; post-procedure reassessment of pain and functional tolerance; and documentation of sites treated, duration, settings, and response. The encounter may be billed in conjunction with other therapy services on the same day, with attention to appropriate modifiers and payer policies. Common payors include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, and Medicare.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	Unspecified modifier (site-specific payer use)	Use only if a payer requires a generic or proprietary modifier `00` per payer policy.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when documented work or complexity for laser therapy is substantially greater than typical and supported by record.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the laser procedure was partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when therapy was started but discontinued due to patient factors or unforeseen complications.
`80`	Assistant at surgery	Use when a surgical assistant is involved and payer recognizes assistant reporting for component services related to post-op laser under specific policies.
`82`	Assistant at surgery (when qualified resident unavailable)	Use similarly to `80` when assistant services meet criteria and `82` is required by payer.
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services furnished in collaboration with a physician	Use when an advanced practice provider performs the laser under supervising physician oversight and payer requires `AS`.
`GO`	Outpatient physical therapy services provided under an outpatient therapy plan of care	Use to indicate the service is part of outpatient PT plan where payer recognizes `GO`.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing is split and the facility or equipment owner bills only the technical component for the laser device and supplies.
`TG`	Surgical team member	Use when a designated surgical team member documents participation in perioperative laser therapy and payer policy requires `TG`.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`225100000X`	Physical Therapist	Commonly documents, evaluates, and administers therapeutic laser as part of outpatient rehabilitation.
`225200000X`	Physical Therapy Assistant	May assist or deliver therapy under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist per state scope of practice.
`225400000X`	Rehabilitation Practitioner	Used for rehabilitative clinicians delivering adjunctive modalities within a multidisciplinary team.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`M54.5`	Low back pain	Low back pain is a common postoperative or chronic pain condition where targeted laser therapy may be used to reduce local pain and facilitate rehabilitation.
`M25.561`	Pain in right knee	Focal knee pain may be treated with laser directed to one or more locations to decrease pain and improve participation in therapeutic exercises.
`M25.562`	Pain in left knee	As above, left-sided knee pain can be an indication for localized laser therapy as adjunctive pain management.
`M79.7`	Fibromyalgia	Widespread musculoskeletal pain conditions like fibromyalgia may receive localized laser treatments for focal tender points to assist symptom control within a multimodal plan.
`M54.2`	Cervicalgia	Neck pain including postoperative or chronic cervicalgia can be addressed with laser directed to painful cervical regions to reduce pain and improve function.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`97110`	Therapeutic exercises to develop strength and endurance, range of motion and flexibility	Often provided before or after laser therapy to address mobility and strength deficits; laser may reduce pain to enable participation in `97110`.
`97140`	Manual therapy techniques	Manual therapy may be performed in the same session to address soft-tissue restrictions; laser can be combined to reduce pain and facilitate manual interventions.
`97035`	Application of a modality to 1 or more areas; ultrasound	Other electrotherapeutic modalities such as ultrasound may be used in conjunction with laser in a multimodal pain management plan.
`97112`	Neuromuscular reeducation of movement, balance, coordination, kinesthetic sense, posture, and/or proprioception for sitting and/or standing activities	Laser therapy can be adjunctive to neuromuscular reeducation when pain reduction is needed to improve motor control and functional training.

CPT 97032: Electrical Stimulation Therapy for Muscle Pain and Dysfunction

CPT-97033-IONTOPHORESIS-TRANSDERMAL-MEDICATION-DELIVERY

CPT 97033: Iontophoresis for Transdermal Medication Delivery

CPT-97034-CONTRAST-BATH-THERAPY

CPT 97034: Contrast Bath Therapy for Pain and Swelling

CPT-97035-THERAPEUTIC-ULTRASOUND-TISSUE-HEALING-PAIN-RELIEF

CPT 97035: Therapeutic Ultrasound for Soft-Tissue Healing

CPT-97036-HUBBARD-TANK-HYDROTHERAPY

CPT 97036: Hubbard Tank Hydrotherapy

CPT-97039-UNLISTED-PHYSICAL-THERAPY-MODALITY

CPT 97039: Unlisted Physical Therapy Modality

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	Unspecified modifier (site-specific payer use)	Use only if a payer requires a generic or proprietary modifier `00` per payer policy.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when documented work or complexity for laser therapy is substantially greater than typical and supported by record.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the laser procedure was partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when therapy was started but discontinued due to patient factors or unforeseen complications.
`80`	Assistant at surgery	Use when a surgical assistant is involved and payer recognizes assistant reporting for component services related to post-op laser under specific policies.
`82`	Assistant at surgery (when qualified resident unavailable)	Use similarly to `80` when assistant services meet criteria and `82` is required by payer.
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services furnished in collaboration with a physician	Use when an advanced practice provider performs the laser under supervising physician oversight and payer requires `AS`.
`GO`	Outpatient physical therapy services provided under an outpatient therapy plan of care	Use to indicate the service is part of outpatient PT plan where payer recognizes `GO`.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing is split and the facility or equipment owner bills only the technical component for the laser device and supplies.
`TG`	Surgical team member	Use when a designated surgical team member documents participation in perioperative laser therapy and payer policy requires `TG`.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`225100000X`	Physical Therapist	Commonly documents, evaluates, and administers therapeutic laser as part of outpatient rehabilitation.
`225200000X`	Physical Therapy Assistant	May assist or deliver therapy under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist per state scope of practice.
`225400000X`	Rehabilitation Practitioner	Used for rehabilitative clinicians delivering adjunctive modalities within a multidisciplinary team.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`M54.5`	Low back pain	Low back pain is a common postoperative or chronic pain condition where targeted laser therapy may be used to reduce local pain and facilitate rehabilitation.
`M25.561`	Pain in right knee	Focal knee pain may be treated with laser directed to one or more locations to decrease pain and improve participation in therapeutic exercises.
`M25.562`	Pain in left knee	As above, left-sided knee pain can be an indication for localized laser therapy as adjunctive pain management.
`M79.7`	Fibromyalgia	Widespread musculoskeletal pain conditions like fibromyalgia may receive localized laser treatments for focal tender points to assist symptom control within a multimodal plan.
`M54.2`	Cervicalgia	Neck pain including postoperative or chronic cervicalgia can be addressed with laser directed to painful cervical regions to reduce pain and improve function.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`97110`	Therapeutic exercises to develop strength and endurance, range of motion and flexibility	Often provided before or after laser therapy to address mobility and strength deficits; laser may reduce pain to enable participation in `97110`.
`97140`	Manual therapy techniques	Manual therapy may be performed in the same session to address soft-tissue restrictions; laser can be combined to reduce pain and facilitate manual interventions.
`97035`	Application of a modality to 1 or more areas; ultrasound	Other electrotherapeutic modalities such as ultrasound may be used in conjunction with laser in a multimodal pain management plan.
`97112`	Neuromuscular reeducation of movement, balance, coordination, kinesthetic sense, posture, and/or proprioception for sitting and/or standing activities	Laser therapy can be adjunctive to neuromuscular reeducation when pain reduction is needed to improve motor control and functional training.

CPT 97032: Electrical Stimulation Therapy for Muscle Pain and Dysfunction

CPT-97033-IONTOPHORESIS-TRANSDERMAL-MEDICATION-DELIVERY

CPT 97033: Iontophoresis for Transdermal Medication Delivery

CPT-97034-CONTRAST-BATH-THERAPY

CPT 97034: Contrast Bath Therapy for Pain and Swelling

CPT-97035-THERAPEUTIC-ULTRASOUND-TISSUE-HEALING-PAIN-RELIEF

CPT 97035: Therapeutic Ultrasound for Soft-Tissue Healing

CPT-97036-HUBBARD-TANK-HYDROTHERAPY

CPT 97036: Hubbard Tank Hydrotherapy

CPT-97039-UNLISTED-PHYSICAL-THERAPY-MODALITY

CPT 97039: Unlisted Physical Therapy Modality

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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CPT 97037: Postoperative Therapeutic Laser for Pain Reduction

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Billing Code Overview

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

OpenPayer

CPT 97037: Postoperative Therapeutic Laser for Pain Reduction

Sign up for cpt 97037 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

CPT 97037: Postoperative Therapeutic Laser for Pain Reduction

Sign up for cpt 97037 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

CPT 97037: Postoperative Therapeutic Laser for Pain Reduction

Sign up for cpt 97037 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What does CPT 97037 represent and where is it typically provided?

Which CPT codes are commonly billed alongside or in relation to 97037?

Which payers are included in the payer list and benchmark data for 97037?

What modifiers are noted for use with CPT 97037 and when would they be applied?

What clinical context and documentation workflow does the page describe for using 97037?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What does CPT 97037 represent and where is it typically provided?

Which CPT codes are commonly billed alongside or in relation to 97037?

Which payers are included in the payer list and benchmark data for 97037?

What modifiers are noted for use with CPT 97037 and when would they be applied?

What clinical context and documentation workflow does the page describe for using 97037?

References