This article clarifies the Multiple-Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR) protocol, often seen as a "multi-therapy discount," applied by Medicare and many commercial insurers to healthcare claims. MPPR dictates that when a provider performs multiple procedures in a single patient visit, only the highest-valued procedure receives full reimbursement; subsequent procedures are reduced. This reduction accounts for the overlap in pre- and post-procedure work, such as room setup, patient education, and initial greetings, which are duplicated when multiple services are billed.
The reduction amounts to 50% of the practice expense (PE) portion of the procedure code's value, which typically results in a modest 7-20% overall reduction per claim. While avoiding payers or limiting services isn't practical, providers can manage MPPR by understanding its implications, always listing the highest-value procedure first based on its Relative Value Unit (RVU), and recognizing that rules vary by payer. Importantly for the user's field, the article notes that acupuncture codes are often exempt from MPPR, offering a key advantage for practitioners. This insight helps acupuncturists navigate complex billing landscapes more effectively.