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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesComplex Chronic Care Management ServicesCPT cpt-99491-chronic-care-management-physician-personal-30-min
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    CPT 99491: Chronic Care Management, First 30 Minutes Per Month

    Medicare pays $92 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 99491 describes a physician or other qualified healthcare professional personally performing chronic care management and care plan services for a patient with two or more chronic conditions expected to last at least one year or until the patient’s death; the conditions place the patient at significant risk of death, acute exacerbation, decompensation, or functional decline. Service type: chronic care management, time-based care planning and coordination. Typical site of service: office or outpatient clinic, including telehealth-capable settings where the clinician personally provides and documents the first 30 minutes of management time per calendar month.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Diabetic Supplies, Radiofrequency Ablation for Thyroid Nodules, Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Delivery for Managing Diabetes (for Idaho Only).

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 78-year-old patient with a history of chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease presents for monthly chronic care management. The physician (or other qualified healthcare professional) personally performs a comprehensive review of the patient’s condition status, medications, recent hospitalizations, symptom changes, laboratory trends, and care goals. The clinician spends the first 30 minutes in the calendar month directly managing and coordinating care, updating the problem list, reconciling medications, adjusting the care plan, and communicating with caregivers and other clinicians as needed. Typical workflow includes pre-visit chart review, synchronous or asynchronous patient and caregiver communication (phone or secure message), documentation of time-based services, and creation of a written or electronic care plan outlining medical problems, goals, self-management tasks, and follow-up. The typical site of service is an outpatient clinic, physician office, or other ambulatory setting where a physician or qualified healthcare professional provides direct chronic condition management. Use of 99491 applies to the first 30 minutes of provider time in a calendar month for a patient with two or more chronic conditions expected to last at least one year or until death, placing the patient at significant risk of death, acute exacerbation, decompensation, or functional decline.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    99490Chronic care management services, at least 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a physician or other qualified health care professional, per calendar monthOften billed for non-face-to-face clinical staff time; 99491 is the provider-performed first 30 minutes and may be used instead when physician/qualified professional time meets criteria
    99487Complex chronic care management services, first hour of clinical staff time directed by a physician or other qualified health care professional, per calendar monthUsed for complex CCM involving at least 60 minutes of clinical staff time; complements 99491 when additional complex care management is provided by staff
    99489Complex chronic care management services, each additional 30 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a physician or other qualified health care professional, per calendar monthUsed to report additional time beyond the initial complex CCM; workflow may include both provider time (99491) and staff time codes
    99495Transitional care management services with moderate medical decision complexity (face-to-face within 14 days)May be billed in the post-discharge period when a transition of care occurs; differs from monthly chronic care management but commonly coordinates with CCM workflows
    99496Transitional care management services with high medical decision complexity (face-to-face within 7 days)Similar to 99495 for higher complexity transitions; may be part of the overall care plan coordination that complements 99491

    Related Modifiers

    10 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.,…
    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…
    24Modifier 24 denotes an unrelated evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or qualified healthcare professional during a postoperative global period. Per CPT guidance,…- Use modifier 24 when you report an evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or same-specialty group during a procedure’s postoperative global period that is unrelated…
    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…
    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…
    95Modifier 95 indicates that a service was provided via synchronous, real‑time audio‑video telehealth rather than in‑person. Per CMS, AAPC and professional associations, append modifier 95 to claim…- Use modifier 95 to indicate a service was furnished via synchronous, real‑time audiovisual telehealth (a live audio‑video conference between patient and provider) rather than in‑person. - Pair…
    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…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RC0000X
    207RH0000X
    207RM1200X
    207RH0002X
    208000000X
    174H00000X
    251K00000X
    225200000X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Endocrinology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Diabetic SuppliesCigna2026-10-15
    Radiofrequency Ablation for Thyroid NodulesCigna2026-10-15
    Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Delivery for Managing Diabetes (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Tzield (teplizumab-mzwv) CoverageUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Delivery for Managing Diabetes (for Indiana Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines Insulin PumpsMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines: Continuous Glucose MonitorsMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Continuous Glucose MonitoringAmbetter Nevada2026-10-01
    Salivary Hormone TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Bone Turnover Markers TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-99487-COMPLEX-CHRONIC-CARE-MANAGEMENT-FIRST-60-MINUTES

    CPT 99487: Complex Care Management for Multiple Chronic Conditions

    CPT-99489-PROVIDER-DIRECTED-CLINICAL-STAFF-CARE-COORDINATION-COMPLEX-CHRONIC-CONDITIONS

    CPT 99489: Provider-Directed Clinical Staff Care Coordination

    CPT-99490-CHRONIC-CARE-MANAGEMENT-PROVIDER-DIRECTED-20-MIN

    CPT 99490: Chronic Care Management, Provider-Directed Clinical Staff

    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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