CPT code 97012: Mechanical traction, device-applied therapy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
Reports device-applied traction during therapy, commonly for cervical or lumbar conditions when mechanical pulling is part of the documented treatment plan.
Medicare pays $13.52–$14.07 for 97012 in the office in Missouri, from Rest of Missouri to Metropolitan St. Louis, MO. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 97012 covers
Mechanical traction uses a device to apply a pulling force to a body region, commonly the cervical or lumbar spine. Physical therapists and other qualified therapy professionals may use it during outpatient rehabilitation for conditions such as neck or low-back pain or radiating symptoms. The device may provide sustained or intermittent traction; this code distinguishes device-applied treatment from hands-on manual traction. It is a modality rather than an active exercise service.
Report the service when mechanical traction is actually provided and supported by the treatment plan. Documentation should identify the treated region, the clinical rationale, relevant device settings or application method, and the patient’s response. This is not a timed, 15-minute service; therapy coding guidance generally treats it as one unit per treatment date. The professional component modifier does not apply. Under the therapy multiple procedure payment reduction, CMS reduces practice expense for the second and later therapy units on the same day; the reduction can affect this service when it falls in that group.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
Where 97012 pays more and less in Missouri
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
3 payment localities
$13.52 to $14.07
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $13.99 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $14.07 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Missouri | $13.52 | Unavailable |
How the 97012 rate is calculated
Each of 97012’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 97012
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.24
0.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.18
0.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.01
0.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.4300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$14.36
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 97012
The CMS indicators that decide how 97012 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 97012
Mechanical traction, device-applied therapy
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 5 | Therapy reduction: practice expense of the second and later units is reduced. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 7 | Therapy service: the split doesn’t apply. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier CQ · payment effect
With and without the modifier
97012 without CQ · national office
$14.36
Mechanical traction, device-applied therapy
97012-CQ · Allowed amount unchanged
$14.36
Medicare cuts its own payment by 15% after the patient’s 20% coinsurance; the allowed amount stays the same. On $100 allowed: $20 coinsurance, then Medicare pays $68 instead of $80.
97012 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 97140Manual therapyOne or more regions, each 15 minutes
- Choose 97012 when a mechanical device applies traction. Choose 97140 for qualifying hands-on manual therapy, including manual traction.
- 97110Therapeutic exerciseOne-on-one, each 15 minutes
- 97012 describes device-applied traction; 97110 describes therapeutic exercises. A visit may include both when each service is performed and documented separately.
- 97014Electrical stimulationUnattended
- 97012 is mechanical traction, while 97014 is electrical stimulation therapy. Select the code for the modality actually furnished.
97012 billing questions
How is mechanical traction different from manual traction?
Report 97012 for traction applied with a mechanical device. Hands-on manual traction is generally reported as manual therapy under 97140 when the service meets that code’s requirements.
Is 97012 billed in 15-minute units?
No. It is an untimed modality, generally reported as one unit per treatment date rather than in 15-minute increments.
Can traction be reported with therapeutic exercise?
Yes, when both services are performed and independently supported by the treatment plan and documentation. For example, a visit may include device-applied traction and a separate therapeutic exercise program.
What documentation supports this service?
Record the treated region, reason for traction, device application or settings, and the patient’s response. The note should show that a mechanical device was used, rather than describing only hands-on treatment.
Should a professional component modifier be appended?
No. CMS identifies this therapy service as one to which the professional component modifier does not apply.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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