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    v1.0.31
    OpenPayerBilling CodesPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Therapeutic ProceduresCPT cpt-97546-work-hardening-conditioning-add-on-hour
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    CPT 97546: Work Hardening/Conditioning, Additional Hour

    Commercial payers pay $63 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 97546 is an add-on procedure for an additional hour of a structured, individualized work hardening/conditioning program focused on restoring functional capacity and maximizing the patient’s ability to return to work; service type: work hardening/conditioning program, typical site of service: outpatient rehabilitation clinic or work conditioning facility.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Preoperative Brain Mapping, Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Preoperative Brain Mapping, Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Preoperative Brain Mapping.

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    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    Commercial rates for CPT 97546 show notable variation around the BUCA average commercial rate of $63.10. UnitedHealth Group posts the highest central tendency with a median of $63.70 and a mean of $77.10, while Blue Cross Blue Shield has a broader high-end exposure (mean $61.50) driven by a $167.10 maximum. Cigna and Aetna sit mid-market with means of $69.80 and $45.50 respectively; BUCA’s mean of $63.10 represents a useful market midpoint for comparison.

    Dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75 minus P25) highlights Blue Cross Blue Shield as the widest (IQR $41.00) and Aetna as the tightest (IQR $17.00). Cigna (IQR $40.00), BUCA (IQR $38.50), and UnitedHealth Group (IQR $22.20) fall between those extremes, indicating differing negotiation or fee-schedule strategies across payers.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 45-year-old warehouse worker with a history of chronic low back pain (M54.5) and recent bilateral knee pain (M25.561, M25.562) is referred to a work hardening/conditioning program after completing initial postoperative and outpatient therapy. The patient demonstrates muscle weakness (M62.81) and difficulty walking (R26.2), which limit the ability to perform job-specific demands such as lifting, carrying, kneeling, and prolonged ambulation.

    The clinical workflow includes an interdisciplinary evaluation by a physical therapist or occupational therapist to establish baseline functional capacity and job task analysis. The primary work hardening program is billed with 97545 for the initial 2-hour block; 97546 is billed as an add-on for each additional hour of structured, individualized work conditioning. Sessions are typically scheduled multiple times per week, include progressive aerobic and strength conditioning, simulated work tasks, education on body mechanics, and periodic functional capacity reassessments. Documentation includes time-based records, goal-directed treatment plans tied to return-to-work objectives, measurable progress toward job-specific functional goals, and coordination notes with the employer or case manager when applicable.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT Code

    Related Modifiers

    10 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    54Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    82Modifier 82 is appended to a surgical CPT code to indicate that an attending physician acted as an assistant because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable. In teaching hospitals it documents…- When to use: Append modifier 82 in teaching-hospital settings to indicate a physician served as an assistant surgeon because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable (includes situations where…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    225100000X
    225200000X
    208100000X
    2278P4000X
    247100000X
    1835E0208X
    2084P0800X
    133VN1201X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    30 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
    F43.21Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
    G56.01Carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper limb
    G56.21Lesion of ulnar nerve, right upper limb
    M17.11Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee
    M17.12Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee
    M17.9Osteoarthritis of knee, unspecified
    M19.071Primary osteoarthritis, right ankle and foot
    M19.072Primary osteoarthritis, left ankle and foot
    M25.561Pain in right knee

    Showing 1–10 of 30

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Neurology/Neurosurgery1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Preoperative Brain Mappingpremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Preoperative Brain Mappingpremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Preoperative Brain Mappingpremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) Inhibitors: Vyepti (eptinezumab-jjmr)Mass General Brigham Health Plan2027-01-04
    Clinical Review Criteria Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM)Kaiser Permanente2027-01-01
    Open Neuroplasty Lumbar PlexusCigna2026-12-15
    Laser Interstitial Thermal TherapyCigna2026-11-15
    Laser Interstitial Thermal TherapyCigna2026-11-15
    Remote Electrical Neuromodulation for Migraines (i.e., Nerivio®)bcbsvermont2026-11-01
    Lumbar Microdiscectomyuniverahealthcare2026-10-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-97110-THERAPEUTIC-EXERCISE-PHYSICAL-THERAPY

    CPT 97110: Therapeutic Exercise

    CPT-97112-NEUROMUSCULAR-REEDUCATION-THERAPEUTIC-EXERCISE

    CPT 97112: Neuromuscular Reeducation

    CPT-97113-AQUATIC-THERAPEUTIC-EXERCISES-15-MIN

    CPT 97113: Aquatic Therapeutic Exercises, 15 Minutes

    CPT-97116-THERAPEUTIC-EXERCISE-AND-GAIT-TRAINING

    CPT 97116: Therapeutic Exercises, Gait Training, 15 Minutes

    CPT-97124-THERAPEUTIC-MASSAGE-SOFT-TISSUE-MOBILIZATION

    CPT 97124: Therapeutic Massage / Soft Tissue Mobilization

    CPT-97129-COGNITIVE-THERAPY-ONE-ON-ONE-15-MINUTES

    CPT 97129: One-on-One Cognitive Therapeutic Intervention, First 15 Minutes

    CPT-97130-COGNITIVE-THERAPY-ADD-ON-15-MINUTE

    CPT 97130: Therapeutic Cognitive Rehabilitation, 15-Minute Increment

    CPT-97139-THERAPEUTIC-PROCEDURE-UNLISTED

    CPT 97139: Unlisted Therapeutic Procedure

    CPT-97140-MANUAL-THERAPY-PHYSICAL-THERAPY

    CPT 97140: Manual Therapy for Soft Tissue and Joint Dysfunction

    CPT-97150-GROUP-THERAPEUTIC-EXERCISE-SUPERVISION

    CPT 97150: Group Therapeutic Procedures, Supervised Exercise

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 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. 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. 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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    Description
    Relationship to This Procedure
    97545Work hardening/conditioning; initial 2 hours (APC list separately in addition to code for primary service)Primary billing code for the initial 2-hour work hardening session; 97546 is an add-on for each additional hour beyond the initial block.