Speech Therapy Medical Billing and Coding in 2024

In 2024, speech therapy medical billing and coding is a critical aspect of any speech therapy practice, aiding in the processing of claims for reimbursement from insurance companies and ensuring seamless administrative functions. This guide will help you choose the right system and services for your needs.

1. Understand Your Needs

First, identify the specific needs of your practice. Do you see many patients daily or just a few? What types of insurance do most of your patients have? Do you deal with a lot of Medicaid or Medicare? Do you often have complex cases that require extensive coding?

2. Budget

Consider your budget. There are a range of products and services available at various price points. While pricing shouldn’t be the sole determining factor, it’s important to find a solution that offers good value for money.

3. Features

Here are some features to consider:

Ease of Use: Ensure the system or service is easy to use and has an intuitive interface. This will save time and reduce the likelihood of errors.

Training and Support: Does the vendor provide training and ongoing support? This can be very helpful, especially when implementing a new system.

Compliance: The system or service should stay up-to-date with the latest changes in regulations and standards for medical billing and coding.

Integration: If you already use practice management software or electronic health records (EHR) system, consider a solution that can integrate with those systems.

Automation: Look for features that automate processes like patient eligibility verification, claim scrubbing, electronic claim submission, and follow-up on unpaid claims.

4. Choose a System or Service

You have a few options to choose from:

In-House Software: This is software you install on your office computers. It’s usually less expensive initially, but requires more work on your part.

Cloud-Based Software: This is software you access through the internet. It’s typically more expensive but offers benefits like automatic updates, easy access from anywhere, and often a more user-friendly interface.

Outsourcing Services: Rather than doing the billing and coding yourself, you can hire a service to do it for you. This can be a good option if you’re short on time or don’t have the resources to manage this internally.

5. Vendor Reputation

Look for reputable vendors who are well-known and respected in the field. Check online reviews, ask for references, and speak to other speech therapy practices to get an idea of the vendor’s reputation.

6. Demo and Trial Period

Most vendors will offer a demo or trial period, so make sure to take advantage of this to see if the system or service meets your needs.

7. Contract Terms

Finally, before making a final decision, understand the terms of the contract. Is it a monthly or annual contract? Can you cancel at any time? Are there any hidden fees?

Remember, the right speech therapy medical billing and coding system or service can streamline your operations, reduce errors, and increase your reimbursement rates. Take your time and choose wisely.

What are the Medical Billing Codes for Speech Therapy?

Medical billing codes, or CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes, are used by healthcare providers to document and bill for procedures and services provided to patients. These codes are updated annually by the American Medical Association (AMA).

From what we understand, in 2024, here are some commonly used CPT codes for speech therapy:

• 92507 – Treatment of speech, language, voice, communication, and/or auditory processing disorder; individual.
• 92508 – Treatment of speech, language, voice, communication, and/or auditory processing disorder; group, 2 or more individuals.
• 92526 – Treatment of swallowing dysfunction and/or oral function for feeding.
• 92521 – Evaluation of speech fluency (eg, stuttering, cluttering).
• 92522 – Evaluation of speech sound production (eg, articulation, phonological process, apraxia, dysarthria).
• 92523 – Evaluation of speech sound production (eg, articulation, phonological process, apraxia, dysarthria); with evaluation of language comprehension and expression (eg, receptive and expressive language).
• 92524 – Behavioral and qualitative analysis of voice and resonance.

Remember, these codes may change or new codes may be added each year. It’s important to check with the most current CPT code list and verify with the specific insurance payer to ensure correct coding.

For Medicare beneficiaries, speech therapy services fall under the umbrella of outpatient speech-language pathology services, and there is an annual limit on how much Medicare will pay for these services (the therapy cap). There are certain conditions that may exempt a beneficiary from this cap if medically necessary services are required.

Before providing services, it’s crucial to check the patient’s insurance policy for coverage of speech therapy services, as some plans may have restrictions or exclusions. It’s also important to get any necessary pre-authorizations and to document the medical necessity of the services in the patient’s medical record.

What is the CPT code for SLP fees?

The American Medical Association (AMA) doesn’t have a specific CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code that describes “SLP (Speech-Language Pathology) Fees”. CPT codes are intended to represent specific procedures or services provided rather than broad categories of payment such as fees.

However, the amount of fees for SLP services typically correlates with the type of service provided, which are represented by specific CPT codes. For instance, SLP services like evaluation and treatment of speech and language disorders, swallowing disorders, etc., each have their own individual CPT codes, as previously mentioned.

Fees associated with these services can vary widely, and are influenced by factors such as:

• Geographical location
• Complexity and length of the therapy session
• Whether the service is provided in a private practice, outpatient clinic, hospital, or another setting
• Insurance carrier rates and agreements

Speech-language pathologists, like other healthcare providers, typically set their own fees for services, and these fees are often negotiated with insurance carriers.

For SLP services not covered by insurance, some providers may offer a discounted self-pay or cash rate. Always be sure to check with your individual provider or clinic for their specific fee schedule.

Common CPT Code Modifiers Used in Speech Therapy Medical Billing

Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code modifiers in speech-language pathology are used to provide additional information about the services provided. Here are some common CPT code modifiers you may encounter in speech therapy medical billing:

1. Modifier 59 (Distinct Procedural Service): This is used when multiple services that are not normally reported together are performed on the same day. This could be the case when a speech therapist provides two completely different services in one session, such as a swallow study and a language evaluation.
2. Modifier 76 (Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional): This modifier is used when a service is repeated in a single day. For example, if the same CPT code needs to be billed twice because the therapist had to repeat the service, the second instance of the code would have the modifier 76.
3. Modifier GP (Services Delivered Under an Outpatient Physical Therapy Plan of Care): This modifier is used to indicate that services were provided under an outpatient physical therapy plan of care. While primarily used for physical therapy services, there may be instances where it’s used in conjunction with speech therapy services.
4. Modifier 77 (Repeat Procedure by Another Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional): Similar to modifier 76, but used when the repeated service is performed by a different professional. This could be used when a patient sees two different speech therapists in one day, for example.
5. Modifier KX (Specific Required Documentation on File): This modifier is used when the clinician attests that the services provided are medically necessary as supported by documentation in the patient’s medical record.

Remember to always refer to the current guidelines set forth by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and private insurance companies as they can change frequently, and be sure to use these codes appropriately to avoid billing errors and claim denials. If there have been updates or changes since June 2024, please consult the most recent guidelines or a medical billing specialist.

Most Common Reasons for Speech Therapy Claim Denials

There can be many reasons why a speech therapy claim might be denied by an insurance company. These may include, but are not limited to:

1. Incorrect or incomplete patient information: This could be as simple as a typo in the patient’s name, incorrect date of birth, wrong policy number, or incorrect insurance ID. Such mistakes can lead to claim denial.
2. Incorrect or missing CPT or ICD-10 codes: Each service provided needs to be accompanied by the correct CPT code, and every diagnosis must have the appropriate ICD-10 code. If these are missing or incorrect, the claim can be denied.
3. Non-covered services: The claim can be denied if the service provided is not covered by the patient’s insurance plan. This can occur if the service is not deemed medically necessary or if the patient’s benefit cap for therapy services for the year has been reached.
4. Lack of pre-authorization or referral: Some insurance plans require a pre-authorization or referral from a primary care physician before covering speech therapy services. If this was not obtained, the claim may be denied.
5. Coding for unbundled services: Unbundling refers to billing each part of a procedure as separate services. If services that are usually billed together are billed separately, it may lead to a claim denial.
6. Insufficient documentation or medical necessity: If there is insufficient documentation to support the medical necessity of the services provided, the claim may be denied. The provider must keep detailed records demonstrating the need for and effectiveness of therapy.
7. Expired insurance coverage: If a patient’s insurance coverage has expired or been cancelled, claims for services rendered will be denied.
8. Coding services outside the scope of practice: If a service is provided and billed that is not within the recognized scope of practice for a speech-language pathologist, it will likely be denied.

These are some of the common reasons for claim denials in speech therapy, but this list is not exhaustive. It’s essential to maintain thorough, accurate documentation, correctly code services, and verify insurance coverage to reduce the risk of denials. Always consult the most current billing and coding standards as guidelines can change frequently.

Author: Mike Cynar

Mike Cynar brings buyers and sellers together by producing reviews and creating non biased webpages allowing users to share their experiences on various products and services. He and his staff write informative articles related to the medical field, legal, and other small business industries.