Billing code 97124: Massage therapyMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Report 97124 for timed, hands-on massage techniques used as a therapeutic intervention during rehabilitation, such as treatment for soft-tissue pain or muscle tightness.
Medicare pays $28.11–$30.74 for 97124 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont to Austin. 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.
On this page 9 sections
What 97124 covers
A therapist uses hands-on stroking, kneading, or percussion techniques to address soft-tissue symptoms such as muscle tightness or pain within a rehabilitation plan. The service is commonly furnished during outpatient physical therapy; the treatment should relate to the patient’s documented functional goals rather than being merely relaxation massage.
Report the code in 15-minute units based on direct treatment time and applicable Medicare timed-code counting rules. Document the techniques, treated area, skilled service, time, and the patient’s response or progress toward goals. When other therapy services are furnished on the same day, CMS reduces practice expense for the second and later therapy units. This is a therapy service, not a separately billed professional component, so a professional-component modifier does not apply.
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 97124 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 payment localities
$28.11 to $30.74
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $30.74 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $28.11 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $29.59 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $29.71 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $29.54 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $29.64 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $29.82 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $28.79 | Unavailable |
How the 97124 rate is calculated
Each of 97124’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 · 97124
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.35Practice expense 0.53Malpractice 0.01
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 97124
The CMS indicators that decide how 97124 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 97124
Massage 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
97124 without CQ · national office
$29.73
Massage therapy
97124-CQ · Allowed amount unchanged
$29.73
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.
97124 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
97124 vs 97140 vs 97110 vs 97112: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 97140Manual therapy
- 97124 is for massage techniques such as stroking, kneading, or percussion. 97140 describes manual therapy interventions such as mobilization, manipulation, or manual traction.
- 97110Therapeutic exercise
- 97110 is for therapeutic exercise, such as prescribed strengthening or range-of-motion activity. 97124 is hands-on massage treatment.
- 97112Neuromuscular reeducation
- 97112 addresses neuromuscular control, balance, coordination, or proprioceptive training. 97124 describes hands-on massage techniques, not neuromuscular training.
97124 billing questions
When should 97124 be chosen instead of 97140?
Use 97124 for massage techniques such as stroking, kneading, or percussion. Use 97140 when the intervention is a manual therapy technique such as joint mobilization or manual traction.
How are units reported?
The code represents 15-minute units. Count the direct treatment time under applicable Medicare timed-code rules and document the time supporting the units billed.
Can 97124 and 97140 be reported on the same date?
They may describe distinct interventions, but the time and service for each must be separately supported; the same minutes cannot support both codes.
Does 97124 have a professional component?
No separate professional component is reported for this therapy service. A professional-component modifier does not apply.
How does the same-day therapy reduction affect 97124?
CMS reduces practice expense for the second and later therapy units furnished on the same day. The reduction is based on therapy-unit order that day.
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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