8 min rule

The 8-minute rule is a billing guideline used primarily in physical and occupational therapy to determine how many units of time-based services can be billed to insurance providers, such as Medicare. Under this rule, a therapist must provide at least 8 minutes of a time-based service to bill for one unit. After the initial 8 minutes, additional units can be billed in set increments, following a specific formula. For example, if a therapist spends 23 minutes on a time-based service, they can bill for 2 units (since 23 minutes falls within the 23-37 minute range). The rule ensures accuracy in billing and helps avoid overcharging for short-duration services. It's crucial for healthcare providers to track time carefully to stay compliant.