8-minute rule calculator for PT and OT
Enter the minutes you spent on each timed code and get billable units the way Medicare counts them, with the reason for each unit. Switch to the per-code method if a commercial plan counts each code on its own.
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Timed minutes by code
Billable timed units
3
Total timed minutes
40
| Code | Minutes | Units | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97110 | 33 | 2 | 2 full units, 3 minutes left over |
| 97140 | 7 | 1 | 0 full units, 7 minutes left over, gets a leftover unit |
Medicare counts units from the total timed minutes, gives each code its full 15-minute units, then assigns any leftover unit to the code with the most minutes left over.
Medicare unit ranges
1 unit8 to 22 min
2 units23 to 37 min
3 units38 to 52 min
4 units53 to 67 min
5 units68 to 82 min
6 units83 to 97 min
7 units98 to 112 min
8 units113 to 127 min
How to use it
- 1Add each timed code you used in the visit.
- 2Enter the minutes you documented for each one.
- 3Read the units per code and why the leftover unit went where it did.
Questions
What is the 8-minute rule?
It is how Medicare counts units for timed therapy codes billed in 15-minute units. You need at least 8 minutes of a timed service to bill one unit, and units are counted from the total timed minutes in the day.
How many units is 38 minutes?
3 units. Medicare counts 8 to 22 minutes as 1 unit, 23 to 37 as 2, 38 to 52 as 3 and 53 to 67 as 4.
Which code gets the leftover unit?
Each code first gets its full 15-minute units. If the total time allows another unit, it goes to the code with the most minutes left over.
Do evaluations count toward the total?
No. Evaluations and other untimed codes are billed as one unit and their minutes don't count toward timed units.
Do commercial plans use the 8-minute rule?
Many do, and some count each code on its own instead. Switch the calculator to the per-code method to see that count, and check your contract.
The CMS example
33 minutes of therapeutic exercise (97110) and 7 minutes of manual therapy (97140) is 40 timed minutes, so 3 units. 97110 gets 2 full units with 3 minutes left over. 97140 has 7 minutes left over, more than 3, so it gets the third unit. That example is loaded in the calculator above. More cases in the 8-minute rule, with worked examples.
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