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Plantar fasciitis gets its own ICD-10-CM codes; inpatient rehabilitation facilities must start all therapies within 36 hours
THE SHORT READ
Plantar fasciitis has its own ICD-10-CM codes, M67.A01, M67.A02 and M67.A09, in the fiscal 2027 code set that took effect Oct. 1. The same day, a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rule began requiring inpatient rehabilitation facilities to start all therapies within 36 hours of admission. The American Physical Therapy Association released a survey in which 27% of adults said they would work with a physical therapist to address pain.
THE DETAILS
- Payment Oct 1, 2026The fiscal 2027 ICD-10-CM code set, used for patient encounters from Oct. 1, 2026, adds codes for plantar fasciitis of the right foot (M67.A01), left foot (M67.A02) and unspecified foot (M67.A09), and plantar fascial fibromatosis gains laterality codes M72.20, M72.21 and M72.22. Plantar fasciitis is removed from M72.2, plantar fascial fibromatosis, according to a summary by WebPT. For R26.2, difficulty in walking, an Excludes1 note for unsteadiness on feet (R26.81) is replaced by an Excludes2 note, WebPT said.
- Payment Oct 1, 2026Under the fiscal 2027 inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) payment rule, which took effect Oct. 1, all therapy treatments and/or therapy evaluations must begin no later than 36 hours from midnight on the day of admission. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said the revision specifies that all, not just some, therapies must start within that window. The rule also requires the initial interdisciplinary team meeting by the fourth day of admission, with later meetings weekly, defined as seven days from the initial meeting. CMS finalized a 2.3% IRF payment update.Sources: Federal Register, CMS
- Public health Oct 1, 2026The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) released a benchmark survey Oct. 1 for National Physical Therapy Month. Of 1,000 U.S. adults surveyed May 29 to June 2, 83% had at least one pain-related issue in the past year and 52% said it disrupted daily life or limited activities, but 27% said they would work with a physical therapist to address it, APTA said. Use of physical therapists as a health resource ranged from 14% to 20% across generations. APTA President Kyle Covington, a physical therapist, said movement is critical to addressing such problems.Source: APTA (PR Newswire)