Verbatim.

Questions billers ask › How does Medicare calculate payment for PT codes when it is secondary?

How does Medicare calculate payment for PT codes when it is secondary?

Answered from the public Medicare sources on 2026-09-15. The quoted text is the source; the note beneath it is what our AI found. You decide what applies to your claim.

The rule, word for word

“(a) Services for which CMS pays on a Medicare fee schedule or reasonable charge basis. The Medicare secondary payment is the lowest of the following: (1) The actual charge by the supplier (or the amount the supplier is obligated to accept as payment in full if that is less than the charges) minus the amount paid by the primary payer. (2) The amount that Medicare would pay if the services were not covered by a primary payer. (3) The higher of the Medicare fee schedule, Medicare reasonable charge, or other amount which would be payable under Medicare (without regard to any applicable Medicare deductible or coinsurance amounts) or the primary payer's allowable charge (without regard to any deductible or co-insurance imposed by the policy or plan) minus the amount actually paid by the primary payer. (b) Example: An individual received treatment from a physician for which the physician charged $175. The primary payer allowed $150 of the charge and paid 80 percent of this amount or $120. The Medicare fee schedule for this treatment is $125. The individual's Part B deductible had been met. As secondary payer, Medicare pays the lowest of the following amounts: (1) Excess of actual charge minus the primary payment: $175−120 = $55. (2) Amount Medicare would pay if the services were not covered by a primary payer: .80 × $125 = $100. (3) Primary payer's allowable charge without regard to [...]”
42 CFR § 411.33, Subpart B -- Insurance Coverage That Limits Medicare Payment: General Provisions -- § 411.33 Amount of Medicare secondary payment.
Published2026-04-06   Captured2026-04-06
sha256:d35878e8…86e2fd4b · Source

What our AI found in the sources

When Medicare is secondary payer, the payment for PT therapeutic exercise (or any therapy service) is the lowest of three amounts: (1) the actual charge minus the primary payer's payment; (2) the amount Medicare would pay if it were primary (80% of the fee schedule amount after deductible); or (3) the higher of Medicare's fee schedule or the primary payer's allowable charge, minus the primary payer's actual payment. The specific dollar amount depends on the provider's charge, the primary payer's payment, and the Medicare fee schedule rate for the CPT code billed--there is no single "secondary rate." The calculation ensures Medicare fills the gap only up to what it would have paid as primary payer.

Also cited

Pub 100-05 Ch 5 § 40.7.3, 40.7.3 - Medicare Secondary Payment Calculation Methodology for Services Reimbursed on Reasonable Charge or Other Basis Under Part B
Captured2026-05-26
sha256:27cc066d…d61a39c1 · Source

If this comes up on one of your claims

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