Are physical therapy modalities (e.g., 97010 hot/cold packs) bundled into the CMT codes?
The physician work included in chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT) codes was laid out in a work value survey of the chiropractic profession conducted in the spring of 1996. Physical therapy modalities (including 97010) were not part of the work described in that survey. It is the position of the American Chiropractic Association that physical therapy modalities are not included in the work of the CMT codes. The appropriate physical modality codes should be used to describe these services, subject to documented medical necessity.
