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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesWork Related or Medical Disability Evaluation ServicesCPT cpt-99456-independent-work-related-disability-examination
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    CPT 99456: Work-Related or Medical Disability Examination

    CPT code 99456 describes an independent medical evaluation or work-related/medical disability examination performed by a provider other than the patient’s treating physician; the service type is occupational/forensic medical evaluation and the typical site of service is an office or designated examination setting for workers’ compensation or disability claims.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Surgical Procedures, Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Service, Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in Adults.

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    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 6

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 42-year-old construction worker is referred for a work-related disability evaluation after a fall at a job site six weeks ago. The worker reports persistent low back pain and limited ability to perform lifting and bending tasks. The employer and the workers' compensation carrier request an independent medical examination (IME) to assess current functional status, work restrictions, and potential permanent impairment. The independent provider (a physician not involved in the worker’s ongoing care) reviews medical records, performs a focused physical exam, documents objective findings, evaluates diagnostic studies, and issues a written report summarizing causation, work capacity, recommended restrictions, and estimated impairment rating if applicable. The typical workflow includes scheduling the exam, obtaining medical records and imaging, conducting the exam (often 30–90 minutes depending on complexity), completing standardized forms required by the payor or jurisdiction, and submitting the report to the requesting payor and employer.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    99456Work-related or medical disability examination by a provider other than the patient’s treating physician (e.g., for workers' compensation)Primary code describing the independent or peer exam and associated report; used to bill the IME service.
    97001Physical therapy evaluationOften performed before or after IME in the care continuum to document function and guide rehabilitation; not billed by the IME provider unless performed.
    99455Work-related or medical disability examination for evaluation of work capacity with report (by treating physician)Related code when the treating physician, rather than an independent provider, prepares a work capacity report; differentiates treating vs non-treating provider roles.
    99457Remote physiologic monitoring treatment management services (first 20 minutes)May be used if remote monitoring is part of post-exam management ordered after an IME; not typical for the IME itself.
    99080Special reports and forms (e.g., for insurers)Used to bill for extensive documentation or completion of forms required by workers' compensation payors in addition to the IME report.

    Related Modifiers

    7 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    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…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    57CPT® modifier -57 (“Decision for Surgery”) is appended to an Evaluation and Management (E/M) service when that encounter results in the initial decision to perform a major surgery (a procedure with a…- Use modifier 57 when an E/M service provided by the same provider (or same tax ID) on the day of or the day before a major surgical procedure (90‑day global period) results in the initial decision…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207L00000X
    207K00000X
    152WS0006X
    163W00000X
    364SX0106X
    207ZH0000X
    101200000X
    231HA2500X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: General Surgery1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Surgical ProceduresUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of ServiceUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Site of Service for Ambulatory Surgical Procedures (ASC Select)Premera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Servicesierra health and life2026-08-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines — Inpatient Surgical CareMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-08-01
    Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) - Site of Care PolicyKaiser Permanente2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-99455-WORK-RELATED-OR-MEDICAL-EVALUATION

    CPT 99455: Work-Related or Medical Evaluation

    CPT-99457-REMOTE-PHYSIOLOGIC-MONITORING-MANAGEMENT

    CPT 99457: Remote Physiologic Monitoring Management with Interactive Communication

    CPT-99458-REMOTE-PHYSIOLOGIC-MONITORING-ADDITIONAL-20-MIN-STAFF-TIME

    CPT 99458: Remote Physiologic Monitoring, Additional 20 Minutes

    CPT-99459-PELVIC-EXAMINATION-WITH-EVALUATION-MANAGEMENT

    CPT 99459: Pelvic Exam with Evaluation and Management

    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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