CPT 97140: Manual Therapy Techniques
CPT 97140 reports manual therapy techniques — joint mobilization, manipulation, manual lymphatic drainage, and manual traction — billed in 15-minute timed units under the 8-minute rule. In 2026 Medicare pays about $27.72 per unit non-facility (national, before locality adjustment).
- Code type
- Timed therapy procedure (per 15 min)
- 2026 Medicare
- ~$27.72 per unit (non-facility)
- Timed?
- Yes — 8-minute rule applies
- Therapy cap
- Counts toward 2026 KX threshold ($2,480 PT/SLP)
What is CPT 97140 used for?
CPT 97140 is manual therapy techniques — hands-on treatment including joint mobilization and manipulation, manual lymphatic drainage, manual traction, and soft-tissue mobilization applied to one or more regions. It is used across physical therapy, occupational therapy, and chiropractic care when a skilled clinician physically works a joint or tissue.
Like 97110, it is a timed code, so the note must state the technique, the region treated, and the minutes of direct contact. Manual therapy documented without a clear skilled purpose is a common denial driver.
How do you count units for 97140?
97140 uses the 8-minute rule. Pool all timed minutes in the visit, then convert to units: 8-22 minutes = 1 unit, 23-37 = 2, 38-52 = 3. Allocate the resulting units to each code by time spent.
Example: 18 minutes of 97140 alone supports 1 unit at about $27.72. Add 15 minutes of 97110 and the pooled 33 minutes yields 2 units — one for each code.
How do NCCI edits affect 97140?
97140 sits in several NCCI procedure-to-procedure edits. In chiropractic it edits against the spinal manipulation codes (98940-98942); in therapy it can edit against other same-day services. When the manual therapy is genuinely separate — a different region or a distinct, non-overlapping time block — a modifier 59 or the more specific X-modifier unbundles it.
How does 97140 relate to the other therapy codes?
97140 shares the 8-minute-rule pool with the other timed procedures. Match the code to the intervention:
- 97140 — manual therapy (mobilization, manipulation, soft tissue).
- 97110 — therapeutic exercise.
- 97112 — neuromuscular reeducation.
- 97530 — therapeutic activities.
Check your locality-adjusted rate with the Medicare fee calculator, and remember every unit counts toward the 2026 KX threshold of $2,480 for combined PT and SLP services. The plan of care opens with an evaluation such as 97161.
Frequently asked questions
NCCI edits bundle 97140 with certain services, and for chiropractic it edits against the manipulation codes. When manual therapy is a distinct service on a separate region or in a separate time block, append modifier 59 (or an X{EPSU} modifier) and document the separation. Never use it just to bypass an edit.
The 2026 national non-facility rate is about $27.72 per 15-minute unit before locality adjustment. Medicare pays 80 percent after the deductible; the patient or secondary plan owes 20 percent. Units follow the 8-minute rule combined with any other timed codes billed that visit.
Yes. 97140 is billed per 15 minutes of direct one-on-one contact, so the note must record actual minutes. One unit needs 8-22 minutes; the total is pooled with other timed codes before converting to units under the 8-minute rule.
Sources & further reading
Reviewed by the ImmediCare Solutions RCM team
Certified billers and coders handling claims across 50+ specialties nationwide. This entry is reviewed against current payer policy and CMS rules. Last review: Jul 5, 2026.
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