October 9, 2025
Cognitive challenges after a stroke, brain injury, or dementia can significantly affect daily life. For healthcare providers, documenting these services correctly is just as important as delivering them. Thatβs where the 97129 CPT code comes in.
This code ensures occupational and physical therapists can accurately bill for cognitive therapy interventions. In this blog, weβll break down what CPT 97129 covers, how to use it, common payer considerations, and best practices for maximizing reimbursement.
CPT code 97129 is used to bill for therapeutic interventions focused on cognitive function and compensatory strategies, delivered through one-on-one patient contact for the first 15 minutes of service. If therapy continues beyond that, providers must bill 97130 for each additional 15 minutes.
Qualified healthcare professionals are authorized to use the 97129 CPT Code. These include:
However, itβs essential to note that when the therapy is performed by certain non-therapist practitioners such as physicians, clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and psychologists the service does not require therapy-specific modifiers and may not qualify as a therapy service.
What 97129 Covers
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Code | Description | When to Use |
97129 | Initial 15 minutes of cognitive intervention (direct contact) | First 15 minutes of the session |
97130 | Each additional 15 minutes of cognitive therapy | For extended sessions |
96125 | Standardized cognitive performance testing | When formal cognitive testing is needed |
97127 | Cognitive function intervention, no time component (deleted, replaced by 97129/97130) | Not used in 2025 |
92508 | When provided in a group setting |
Accurate and detailed documentation is critical for ensuring compliance and proper reimbursement. Here are some tips:
CPT code 97129 plays a crucial role in ensuring that cognitive rehabilitation services are properly documented and reimbursed. By following correct coding practices, using 97130 for extended sessions, and carefully documenting medical necessity, providers can maximize revenue while supporting patientsβ recovery.
If your practice struggles with cognitive therapy billing and payer-specific rules, partnering with a professional medical billing company like CuresMB can save time, reduce denials, and ensure timely reimbursements.
Itβs used for direct, one-on-one cognitive interventions to improve memory, attention, problem-solving, and daily living strategies.
97129 is billed for the first 15 minutes, while 97130 is an add-on code for each additional 15 minutes of therapy.
Yes, occupational therapists (OTs) and physical therapists (PTs) commonly bill 97129 when providing cognitive rehabilitation.
Medicare may cover it if medical necessity is documented, but policies vary. Always check your payer guidelines.
Codes like 97153, 97155, or 92507 (speech-language pathology services) cannot be billed for the same time period as 97129.
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