Smoking Cessation Counseling Codes 99406 and 99407.
99406CPT codes for Smoking CessationCodeDescriptionTotal National facility RVUs99406Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling visit; intermediate, greater than 3 minutes up to 10 minutes0.3599407greater than 10 minutes0.74Feb 1, 2022
Description of CPT code 99406 & 99407 CPT code 99407 is not an add-on code, and the two codes are never reported together. Report only one of the codes, depending on the time of the counseling.Feb 21, 2020
According to the Medicare Preventive Services guide, Medicare suggests the use of codes 99406 and 99407. A notable change as of October 1, 2016 is that the copayment/coinsurance as well as the deductible for 99406 and 99407 are now waived. The Medicare beneficiary has a zero dollar out-of-pocket liability.
Z71. 6 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
To quit smoking. Smoking cessation lowers the risk of cancer and other serious health problems. Counseling, behavior therapy, medicines, and nicotine-containing products, such as nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers, and nasal sprays, may be used to help a person quit smoking.
Z72. 0 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
99406Note: G codes are for asymptomatic patient counseling in the physician office setting; C codes are for asymptomatic patient counseling in the hospital outpatient setting. ❖ 99406 – Smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling visit; intermediate, greater than 3 minutes up to 10 minutes.
Smoking cessation (99406 and 99407) services were developed as E/M services and may be reported with the E/M services 99201-99205 and 99211-99215.
Magnolia Health (MH) indicates that 99406 and 99407 are reimbursed with no modifier or diagnosis limitations. The codes are payable on the physician side, but are not covered for outpatient facility claims.
Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions in Primary Care to Reduce Alcohol Misuse | HCPCS Code G0442. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for alcohol misuse and behavioral interventions for individuals whose screening results are positive.Aug 18, 2021
There are two quit-smoking medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that are pills: bupropion and varenicline. Bupropion has many effects on the brain, including helping people quit smoking. It decreases craving and other nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
The CPT codes for billing for smoking cessation include: 99406 – Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling visit; intermediate, greater than three minutes, up to 10 minutes. 99407 – Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling visit; intensive, greater than 10 minutes.
The 2019 CMS guidelines state that Medicare covers two cessation attempts per 12-month period. Each attempt includes a maximum of up to four intermediate (99406) or intensive (99407) counseling sessions, with a total Medicare benefit of eight sessions per year. This is not per physician, or per attempt, but per patient.
Follow-up arranged. Amount of time spent counseling patient. An entry in the patient’s health record simply stating that the doctor spent 11 minutes counseling the patient on tobacco use will not cut it, and will not meet the standard for medical necessity. Time needs to be documented, as this is a time-based code.
In 2010, the American Cancer Society reported that 7 out of 10 smokers who desired to quit smoking were successful! It is possible to quit smoking with proper help from a physician who takes the time to counsel each patient on the benefits of quitting smoking, along with appropriate prescriptions, if necessary.
This means that Medicare and commercial insurance carriers must provide coverage for smoking cessation counseling and interventions. These services include: Tobacco use screening for all adults and adolescents. Tobacco cessation counseling for adults and adolescents who use tobacco, and expanded counseling for pregnant women.
Terry Fletcher, BS, CPC, CCC, CEMC, CCS, CCS-P, CMC, CMSCS, CMCS, ACS-CA, SCP-CA, QMGC, QMCRC, is a healthcare coding consultant, educator, and auditor with more than 30 years of experience. Terry is a past member of the national advisory board for AAPC, past chair of the AAPCCA, and an AAPC national and regional conference educator. Terry is the author of several coding and reimbursement publications, as well as a practice auditor for multiple specialty practices around the country. Her coding and reimbursement specialties include cardiology, peripheral cardiology, gastroenterology, E&M auditing, orthopedics, general surgery, neurology, interventional radiology, and telehealth/telemedicine. Terry is a member of the ICD10monitor editorial board and a popular panelist on Talk Ten Tuesdays.
It would be like documenting a level 5 E&M code, but because the patient isn't ready to have a high-risk surgery, telling the physician you have to downcode your E&M, based on the patient’s readiness for surgery. The recommendation, discussion, and overall risk still exist. This would not negate the level 5 visit.
The F17 codes are used if the patient is dependent on tobacco. The Z codes are used if there is NOT dependence on tobacco. The Z codes cannot be combined with an F17 code.
Similar to the CPT code set, HCPCS is a standardized coding set used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as well as other payers. Like CPT, it includes three levels or categories of codes:
It provides a uniform mechanism for describing services and procedures among providers, payers, and patients, as well as coders and analytical entities. For this document, CPT establishes what services or procedures have been provided and the basis for payment by payers.
ICD-10 codes are used by physicians and other health care providers to classify and code all diagnoses, symptoms, and procedures in U.S. health care settings on claims for services provided. These codes are used by payers to determine coverage, not the amount that will be paid. Separately, payers have schedules which match the codes to the specific provider’s negotiated rate.
Medicare Part B (provider component) covers two levels of tobacco cessation counseling for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients: intermediate (great than 3 minutes but no more than 10 minutes) and intensive (greater than 10 minutes).
Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) are required to provide at least a comparable level of benefits to the fee-for-service option (77 percent of state Medicaid recipients are currently served by Medicaid MCOs).
It is an in-depth assessment of health plan performance on critical processes that ensure patient safety, identify and close gaps in care, control costs, reduce and eliminate waste, and improve health and health care2. In 2015, the Centers for Disease Control Oce of Smoking and Health (CDC) worked with the National Alliance to update the tobacco questions. Plans responded in 2016 and analysis was completed in 2017. High level findings relevant to billing include:
If you are already counseling for smoking cessation in your practice, you are doing the work, so get paid for it. Medicare reimbursement for 99407, smoking cessation for longer than 10 minutes of counseling is $28.96. The 10 minute or longer consult may not apply to everyone. The 3 to 10 minute counseling code, 99406, reimburses $15.70.
The CPT codes are listed below for billing for smoking cessation: 99406 – Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling visit; intermediate, greater than 3 minutes up to 10 minutes. 99407 – Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling visit; intensive, greater than 10 minutes.
Medicare covers 2 cessation attempts per 12-month period. Each attempt includes a maximum of up to 4 intermediate ( 99406) or intensive ( 99407) counseling sessions, with a total Medicare benefit of 8 sessions per year.
Effective treatments, according to the American Cancer Society include: 1 Seeing the doctor for advice on quitting 2 Counseling from a physician, group, or telephone 3 Prescription medications and nicotine patches 4 Former smokers report that nicotine gum or candies can help fight the urge, too.
Follow-up arranged. Amount of time spent counseling patient. An entry in the patient’s health record simply stating that the doctor spent 11 minutes counseling the patient on tobacco use will not cut it and will not meet the standard for medical necessity or to be able to bill the codes.
The CDC mentions calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). This can help if the patient is not computer savvy, but wants help. They will also give free support and advice, developing a plan that’s right for the patient. Steps to helping our patients become smoke-free are reimbursed by many insurance companies.
In 2014, smoking cessation became a covered benefit under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). This means that Medicare and commercial insurance carriers must provide smoking cessation counseling and interventions. These services include: Tobacco use screening for all adults and adolescents.
Reimbursement may be possible if you bill the patient’s insurance company correctly. Medicare covers 2 cess ation attempts per 12-month period. Each attempt includes a maximum of up to 4 intermediate (99406) or intensive (99407) counseling sessions, with a total Medicare benefit of 8 sessions per year.
The American Cancer Society’s Great American Smoke Out is a nationwide day, the third Thursday in November, dedicated to helping smokers stop smoking. So far, it has worked! There are now more former smokers in the Nation than current smokers.
Manny Oliverez, CPC, is a 20-year healthcare veteran and the CEO and co-founder of Capture Billing, a medical billing services company located outside of Washington, D.C. He teaches the nation’s physicians, administrators, and medical practices how to maximize billing and revenue cycle management processes. Manny also frequently posts articles and videos on his award-winning healthcare blog. For more information on Manny and his company, please visit his website, or call (703)327-1800. And if you’re on LinkedIn, please look for him there too.READ MORE