97010 Hot or cold packs therapy
Also known as: Heat therapy, Ice pack therapy, Hot/cold packs
Application of therapeutic heat (hot packs) or cold (cold packs) therapy for pain management and inflammation reduction. Each 15-minute application.
In Plain Language
Heating pad or ice pack for pain relief
Clinical Context
Basic thermal therapy for acute and chronic pain, muscle spasms, and joint stiffness. Used in physical therapy and rehabilitation settings.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 0.06 |
| Total RVU | 0.06 |
Est. Medicare Payment
National estimate based on 2026 CMS PFS Conversion Factor ($33.40). Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI adjustment).
Billing & Documentation
Medicine section codes cover a wide range of non-surgical services. Documentation should include the clinical indication, procedure details, interpretation (if applicable), and any patient-specific findings.
How This Code Compares
With a work RVU of 0.06, this code ranks in the 3rd percentile among Medicine codes — 13.0x below the median (0.78). The highest wRVU in this category is 23.92.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 97010?
CPT 97010 (Hot or cold packs therapy) is a Medicine code. Application of therapeutic heat (hot packs) or cold (cold packs) therapy for pain management and inflammation reduction. Each 15-minute application.
Who uses CPT code 97010?
CPT 97010 is used by Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine. Basic thermal therapy for acute and chronic pain, muscle spasms, and joint stiffness. Used in physical therapy and rehabilitation settings.
When is CPT 97010 used?
Basic thermal therapy for acute and chronic pain, muscle spasms, and joint stiffness. Used in physical therapy and rehabilitation settings.
Track This Code in RVU Edge
Log procedures, calculate wRVUs, and benchmark against MGMA data — all in one app.
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.