Loading...

    Explore
    • Policy Monitoring
    • Live Policy Feed
    • Billing Codes
    • NPI Medicare & Medicaid
    • Healthcare Providers
    • Health Insurance Payers
    • States
    • Service Lines
    • Taxonomy Codes
    Lookup tools
    • Billing Code Lookup
    • CPT Modifier Lookup
    • Provider Taxonomy Code Lookup
    • Healthcare Provider & Facility Lookup
    • Health Insurance Payer Lookup
    • Payer Contact Directory

    Policy & Benchmark Tools

    • Prior Authorization Lookup
    • Coverage Criteria Lookup
    • Timely Filing Lookup
    • Billing Code Reimbursement Rates
    • Payer Comparison Dashboard
    • Facility Comparison Dashboard
    • All tools

    Company

    • About OpenPayer
    • Data Sources
    • Trek Health
    OpenPayerby Trek Health
    LinkedInYouTube

    © 2026 Trek Health. All rights reserved.

    OpenPayer is built and maintained by Trek Health.

    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAcupuncture ProceduresCPT cpt-97811-acupuncture-additional-15-minute-continuation
    Ask Trek AI about this page

    CPT 97811: Acupuncture, Each Additional 15 Minutes

    Medicare pays $29 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 97811 describes an acupuncture service where the provider pierces the skin with one or more needles and manually manipulates them to stimulate anatomical points, representing each additional 15 minutes of patient contact following the initial acupuncture session; service type: acupuncture, typical site of service: outpatient clinic or office-based acupuncture treatment.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Clinical Review Criteria Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM), Remote Electrical Neuromodulation for Migraines (i.e., Nerivio®), Lumbar Microdiscectomy.

    Customize your policy alerts

    Sign up for cpt 97811 policy alerts

    Get alerted when payer policies referencing 97811 are released or updated.

    Monitor payer policy activity

    Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 7

    Explore openpayer tools

    • Billing CodesCPT, HCPCS, DRG & more
    • Reimbursement RatesCommercial vs. Medicare rate reports
    • Facility ComparisonBeds, revenue & payer mix
    • ProvidersHospitals & facilities
    • PayersPlans & market footprint
    • Taxonomy CodesNUCC specialty codes
    • ModifiersCPT modifiers & usage
    • Prior AuthorizationPA policies by payer & drug
    • Timely FilingFiling deadlines by payer
    • Coverage CriteriaMedical necessity by payer
    • Payer ContactsClaims, PA & appeals contacts
    View all tools

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 52-year-old patient presents to an outpatient integrative medicine clinic with chronic low back pain refractory to first-line conservative therapies. The patient has completed a course of physical therapy and trialed NSAIDs with partial relief. The licensed acupuncturist or medical provider performs an initial acupuncture session lasting 30 minutes, placing multiple sterile needles to stimulate anatomical points for analgesia and functional improvement. After the initial 15-minute primary acupuncture service, the provider documents an additional 15 minutes of direct patient contact performing needle manipulation and point stimulation to extend the therapeutic session. The workflow includes an intake and focused exam, informed consent, needle placement, periodic patient reassessment during the additional time, and procedural documentation of anticipated benefit, treatment response, and total treatment time for accurate billing of the additional time increment using the appropriate code.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    97810Acupuncture, initial 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient; without electrical stimulationOften billed for the primary initial 15-minute acupuncture service preceding additional 15-minute increments billed with 97811.
    97813Acupuncture, initial 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient; with electrical stimulationUsed when the initial acupuncture session includes electrical stimulation; 97811 may follow for additional time with electrical stimulation billed as 97814.
    97814Acupuncture, each additional 15 minutes of personal one-on-one contact with the patient; with electrical stimulationAnalogous additional-time code when electrical stimulation is used; parallels 97811 for manual acupuncture.
    97032Application of a modality to 1 or more areas; electrical stimulation (manual), each 15 minutesMay be used in conjunction when electrical stimulation modalities separate from acupuncture are provided in the same treatment plan (payer rules determine bundling).
    99213Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, typically 15 minutesA separate E/M visit may be billed with modifier 25 if a distinct E/M service is documented on the same day as acupuncture.

    Related Modifiers

    7 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    171100000X
    208D00000X
    208VP0000X
    207L00000X
    207K00000X
    261QB0400X
    261QP3300X
    101YP2500X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    23 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    F41.9Anxiety disorder, unspecified
    F45.41Pain disorder exclusively related to psychological factors
    G43.909Migraine, unspecified, not intractable, without status migrainosus
    G44.209Tension-type headache, unspecified, not intractable
    M25.551Pain in right hip
    M25.561Pain in right knee
    M25.572Pain in left ankle and joints of left foot
    M47.816Spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy, lumbar region
    M48.02Spinal stenosis, cervical region
    M53.2X9Spinal instabilities, site unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 23

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Neurology/Neurosurgery1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Clinical Review Criteria Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM)Kaiser Permanente2027-01-01
    Remote Electrical Neuromodulation for Migraines (i.e., Nerivio®)bcbsvermont2026-11-01
    Lumbar Microdiscectomyuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Discuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Responsive Neurostimulation for Focal EpilepsyPremera Bluecross2026-10-14
    Intraoperative MonitoringProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Intraoperative MonitoringProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    High-Intensity Focused UltrasoundMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Vagal Nerve StimulationAmbetter Nevada2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-97810-ACUPUNCTURE-INITIAL-15-MINUTE-TREATMENT

    CPT 97810: Acupuncture, Initial 15-Minute Needling

    CPT-97813-ELECTROACUPUNCTURE-INITIAL-15-MINUTE-TREATMENT

    CPT 97813: Electroacupuncture, 15-Minute Initial Treatment

    CPT-97814-ACUPUNCTURE-ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION-ADDITIONAL-15-MIN

    CPT 97814: Acupuncture with Electrical Stimulation, Additional 15 Minutes

    CPT-98002-NEW-PATIENT-TELEHEALTH-EVALUATION-MODERATE-COMPLEXITY

    CPT 98002: New Patient Telehealth E/M, Moderate Complexity

    CPT-98003-TELEMEDICINE-NEW-PATIENT-EVALUATION-HIGH-COMPLEXITY-60MIN

    CPT 98003: New Patient Telehealth E/M, High Complexity, 60+ Minutes

    CPT-98005-ESTABLISHED-PATIENT-TELEHEALTH-EVALUATION-20-MINUTES

    CPT 98005: Established Patient Telehealth E/M, Low MDM, ≥20 Minutes

    CPT-98008-NEW-PATIENT-AUDIO-ONLY-EVALUATION-AND-MANAGEMENT

    CPT 98008: New Patient Audio-Only Evaluation and Management

    CPT-98016-VIRTUAL-BRIEF-EVALUATION-ESTABLISHED-PATIENT

    CPT 98016: Virtual Check‑in for Established Patient, 5–10 Minutes

    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.
    Published by

    Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

    Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.