Healthcare Data

Billing Hydromassage for Healthcare Professionals

The AMA’s CPT code book includes the following instructions:

• Select the name of the procedure or service that most accurately identifies the service performed.
• There may be services or procedures performed by medical professionals that are not found in CPT. Therefore, a number of specific code numbers have been included for reporting unlisted procedures. When an unlisted procedure code is used, a report describing the service or procedure must be attached to the insurance claim.

Coding for the services provided by any hydrotherapy table isn’t as exact as we would like. The problem is the AMA CPT code book does not have a specific code for hydrotherapy tables. Given that the tables use jets of water to massage the soft tissues and increase circulation, it’s no wonder that the whirlpool code (97022) seems appropriate. The hot pack code (97010) also makes sense as the patient is lying on a mattress filled with hot water. Additionally, the massage code (97124) looks good but that code requires the doctor or therapists to do a hands-on massage. Here’s what the leading associations have to say…

The American Medical Association has stated the following:

Since there is no code(s) in CPT that specifies the services provided by hydrotherapy tables and since the procedures performed by the device are identified as physical therapy modalities, the most appropriate code to use for these services would be code 97039 (a report should be included with the use of this code to identify the specifics involved in performing the service).

After reviewing all of this, it seems the unlisted modality code of 97039 is the most accurate.

Since proper coding and billing falls under your responsibility as a licensed professional, it is advisable to seek the opinion of your state association, the AMA, a coding professional or the insurance company prior to billing. Also, since codes and/or their descriptions can change, it is important to review them periodically, usually every year.

Ask The Insurance Companies What Code To Use

You can ask the insurance companies what code to use prior to billing. After reviewing the codes in your CPT coding manual, just call each company and ask them what code they want you to use. You can use our Explanation of Dry Hydrotherapy to help you explain the tables and the therapy.

You can also call us at 800-330-7260 and we will send you a complete guide to dry hydrotherapy. It is the most comprehensive guide ever written on the subject. It was written by doctors for doctors.

As new information becomes available, we will post it on our website.

Disclaimer: Since CPT coding, billing insurance and getting reimbursed are obviously out of our control, we make no guarantees as to how much anyone will reimburse.

Making Money with Hydrotherapy Tables

A Sidmar hydrotherapy table is a wise investment. The up front costs are less than any other manufacturer and the return on that investment is greater as the product life can be 15 years or more with very little maintenance costs.

The cost of a Professional model is $2,999. If you average that cost over a 15 year useful life, that’s only $199.93 per year. Now lets assume your clinic is open 5 days a week. If only five people per day get treated on the table at an average charge of $15 per treatment, you will generate $19,500 in revenue each year. Over 15 years, the total revenue would be $292,500. Not bad for a product that only costs $2,999.

Hydrotherapy tables generate revenue in basically two ways: directly and indirectly. You get direct payments from insurance companies and cash payments from patients. You indirectly make money through increased patient visits and more referrals. Let’s look at it more closely.

New Profit Center (Direct Revenue)

Since you most likely don’t already own a hydrotherapy table, their addition will bring a new profit center to your practice. The therapy provided by the table generates insurance and cash payments. If you charge $15 for the therapy and only 5 people per day receive treatment, that’s an astounding $19,500 in revenue in one year.

Calculation: charge for hydrotherapy x patients/day x number of days you are open per year.

Example: $15 charge for hydrotherapy x 5 patients/day x 260 days/year = $19,500

Increases Patients Visits (Indirect Revenue)

The table becomes a vital part of the value delivered by your office on each visit. Patients that find a high value in your treatments return more regularly. If you can realize just 6 extra visits per year with only 20% of your patients, the revenue generated is phenomenal. Let’s look at it.

If you have 200 patients, 20% of them is 40 patients. If you get 6 more visits per year from 40 patients, that’s another 240 visits annually. If you charge $30 for an adjustment and $15 for hydrotherapy, that adds up to $10,800 in additional revenue. Even if you gave away the hydrotherapy treatments, you would still get $30 for each adjustment which equates to an impressive $7,200.

Calculation: ($ for adjustment + $ for hydrotherapy) x total patients x 6 visits x 20%

Example: ($30 adj +$15 hydro) $45 x 200 total patients x 6 extra visits per year x 20% = $10,800

Attracts New Patients and Increase Referrals (Indirect Revenue)

Our product will help bring in new patients through referrals from satisfied customers. It’s a fact that after someone tries our product, they talk about it. Because of the uniqueness and how wonderful it makes them feel, they can’t help but express that to someone.

What is the average new patient worth to you? Let say it’s only $500 (the lifetime value of a new patient will normally be much higher). If our table helps bring you only one new patient per month, that equates to $6,000 annually!

Calculation: number of new patients per month x 12 months x value of a new patient

Example: 1 new patient per month x 12 months x $500 = $6,000

Summary of Potential Revenue

If you add up the direct and indirect revenues in our conservative examples you get $36,300 in annual revenue. With an initial cost of only $2,999, you can see why so many others have found our tables to be a wise investment!

Over a 15 year life, the direct and indirect revenue calculates out to $544,500 ($36,300 x 15 years). These are simple mathematical calculations to help you understand how you can make money with hydrotherapy tables. No one can guarantee how much money you will actually make.

Sell Our Tables To Your Patients

The final plus is something no other hydrotable brand can offer you. You will discover from the very first day that your patients will love the tables. Many will say how great it would be to have one in their home. When someone buys a hydrotable, you will profit from it. You take the order and we ship the table directly to their home. No inventory, no extra investment, no assembly or warranty to provide. We do it all. Just another simple way to earn more from your investment in a Sidmar hydrotable. The fact is we have sold hundreds of hydrotables this way. If you chose, you can sell our ComfortWave model to your patients to use at home. It’s easy to do, just ask us how. To learn more about our ComforWave model, click here.

Our customers get more revenue, more patient visits and more referrals and you can too.

The physiological effects of heat and massage are very complimentary in the treatment of many types of soft tissue injuries and other conditions such as orthopedic, rheumatic, and neurologic disorders as well as certain post-surgical conditions. These two forms of therapy are therefore frequently applied together.

Physiologic Effects of Radiant Heat

• Analgesic—This effect is the most frequent indication for the application of heat. Current thought suggests this effect is related to the gate control theory of pain modulation.
• Antispasmodic—Heat is generally considered to produce a relaxation effect and reduction in muscle guarding. It also increases the elasticity of connective tissue which is an important consideration in treatment of post acute strains and sprains, and after long periods of immobilization.
• Decongestive—Increased capillary blood flow is important in the treatment of many types of injury because it causes an increase in the supply of oxygen and other necessary nutrients and enzymes in addition to an increased clearing of metabolites.
• Sedative—Heat helps decrease spasticity, tenderness and spasm.
• Local vasodilation—Increases local metabolic rate (increased healing rate) and resultant additional heat.

Physiological Effects of Massage

• Increases local blood supply to soft tissues, muscles and joints.
• Increased drainage and reduction of swelling in soft tissue, muscle, and periarticular regions.
• Muscle relaxation and reduction in muscle guarding.
• Increased venous and lymphatic return augmenting reduction of edema.
• Prevents adhesions and fibrosis in muscles, ligaments and contiguous tissues.
• Decreased tendency towards muscle atrophy during long periods of immobilization or disuse.
• Pain reduction and interruption of pain sensation cycle resulting in increased ease of mobility.

Massage and Heat Indications and Contraindications

The following is a partial list of the general indications and contraindications of heat and massage. It is obviously imperative that the doctor accurately diagnose and understand the specific indications and contraindications of the condition being treated in conjunction with a knowledge of any coexisting conditions, medications, or other factors upon which the application of these modalities may adversely affect the patients overall health.

Massage Indications

• Arthritis
• Fibrositis
• Sprains
• Strains
• Contusions
• Back pain
• Muscle spasm
• Orthopedic conditions
• Rheumatic conditions
• Nerve injuries and neurologic disorders
• Nervous tension / emotional stress
• Headaches
• Trigger points
• Radiculitis
• Joint stiffness
• Reduce post traumatic edema
• Reduce dependent edema (varicosities, congestive heart failure)

Massage Contraindications

• Acutely inflamed joints and soft tissue
• Suspicion of local malignancy
• Phlebitis or Lymphangitis
• Acute burns or acute dermatitis
• Suspicion of osteomyelitis or tuberculous lesions of bone
• Presence of intra abdominal organic disease
• Infectious diseases
• Advanced arteriosclerosis
• Suspicion of Hematoma
• Vertigo
• Increased pain, swelling, or stiffness persisting more than two hours following massage

Heat Indications

• Arthritic and Rheumatic conditions
• Subacute and chronic post traumatic inflammatory conditions
• Synovitis
• Strains
• Sprains
• Tenosynovitis
• Non-infectious bursitis
• Contusions
• Joint Stiffness
• Subacute and chronic back ache
• Peripheral nerve injuries
• Post surgical orthopedic conditions
• Orthopedic conditions
• Trigger points
• Muscle spasm
• Radiculitis
• Headaches
• Nervous tension / Emotional stress

Heat Contraindications

• Acute inflammatory process
• Acute non-draining cellulitis
• Acute infectious arthritis
• Any condition with a tendency toward hemorrhage
• Pregnancy if treating over the abdomen
• Areas where a malignant growth is suspected
• Certain medications which may sensitize the body to heat
• Peripheral nerve injuries in which the appreciation of heat sensation has been lost or impaired