Code 90785 may be reported with codes for diagnostic evaluation (90791), psychotherapy (90832, 90834, 90837) and group psychotherapy (90853).
The time for a psychotherapy code is defined as the time spent with the patient and/or patient’s family. While time for each code is specified in increments of 30, 45, or 60 minutes, the coding manual actually allows for some flexibility.
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT codes) are used by psychologists and other mental health professionals in order to bill their services to an insurance company or Medicaid. This is not a complete list, but simply a list of some of the most commonly used CPT codes in mental health and psychology services, meant as a quick-reference sheet.
2019 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z71.9 Counseling, unspecified Billable/Specific Code POA Exempt Applicable To Encounter for medical advice NOS Approximate Synonyms Counseling Counseling done Present On Admission Z71.9 is considered exempt from POA reporting.
Z71.9ICD-10 code Z71. 9 for Counseling, unspecified is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Factors influencing health status and contact with health services .
9083290832 – Psychotherapy 30 minutes.
90834Therapists who conduct a traditional 50-minute therapy session should be aware that these should generally be billed as a 90834, as less than 53 minutes are spent in clinical discussion and therapy.
Here's a CPT description list of frequently used codes, according to the National Association of Social Workers: 90832: 30 minutes of psychotherapy. 90834: 45 minutes of psychotherapy. 90837: 60 minutes of psychotherapy.
You'll want to use your typical 90837 CPT code. Then you'll also want to use the Add On CPT code 99354 which declares an additional 30 to 74 minutes of therapy. So any time you do 90 to 2 hours and 14 minutes of therapy, make sure to use the combination of CPT Codes 90837 and +99354.
Both 90834 and 90837 are designed to bill for the same service – psychotherapy. The primary distinguishing factor between the two codes is time; 90834 is defined as 45 minutes of psychotherapy, while 90837 is defined as 60 minutes.
If the session lasts for 75 minutes or more, you would use both 90839 and the add-on code 90840 when billing patients and filing claims.
For 38 to 52 minutes of psychotherapy, you would use the 45-minute code, either 90834 or 90836; and for 53 minutes and beyond, you would use 90837 or 90838, the 60-minute codes.
90837Units vs Extended Session CPT Codes To bill an insurance claim for a 90 minute individual therapy session: bill 90837. with add-on code 99354.
patient for more than 15 minutes you may code using 90832, the 30-minute code; and if you see a patient for 35 minutes, you would also use 90832. However, if you see the patient for 38 to 52 minutes, you would use 90834, the 45-minute code; and for 53 minutes or more you would use 90837, the 60-minute code).
DSM is ICD–DSM directs therapists to the correct ICD diagnosis codes they need to bill. This brings us back to our critical question, how are CPT and ICD related? The relationship between an ICD code and a CPT code is that the diagnosis supports the medical necessity of the treatment.
CPT codes for psychotherapyCPT CodeDescription90832Individual psychotherapy, 30 minutes+90833Individual psychotherapy, 30 minutes with evaluation and management service (E/M)90834Individual psychotherapy, 45 minutes+90836Individual psychotherapy, 45 minutes with E/M37 more rows
The time for each psychotherapy code is described as time spent with the patient and/or family, and although the time for each code is specific (30, 45 or 60 minutes), the coding manual allows for some flexibility.
Of particular interest to prescribing psychologists, add-on code 90863 is used for pharmacologic management, including prescription and review of medication, when performed on the same day as one of the stand-alone psychotherapy codes (90832, 90834, 90837).
CPT code 90839 is the principal code for a crisis psychotherapy session requiring urgent assessment and history of the crisis state, mental status exam and disposition . It is billed for the first 60 minutes of psychotherapy for a patient in crisis.
CPT codes, descriptions and other data only are copyright 2020 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/HHSARS apply.
This article contains coding and other guidelines that complement the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Psychiatry and Psychology Services.
The correct use of an ICD-10-CM code listed below does not assure coverage of a service. The service must be reasonable and necessary in the specific case and must meet the criteria specified in the related determination.
Severe and profound intellectual disabilities (ICD-10-CM codes F72, F73, and F79) are never covered for psychotherapy services or psychoanalysis (CPT codes 90832-90840, 90845-90849 and 90853). In such cases, rehabilitative, evaluation and management (E/M) codes should be reported.
Contractors may specify Bill Types to help providers identify those Bill Types typically used to report this service. Absence of a Bill Type does not guarantee that the article does not apply to that Bill Type.
Contractors may specify Revenue Codes to help providers identify those Revenue Codes typically used to report this service. In most instances Revenue Codes are purely advisory. Unless specified in the article, services reported under other Revenue Codes are equally subject to this coverage determination.
CPT Codes for Psychology Services. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT codes) are used by psychologists and other mental health professionals in order to bill their services to an insurance company or Medicaid. This is not a complete list, but simply a list of some of the most commonly used CPT codes in mental health and psychology services, ...
Most traditional face-to-face, individual psychotherapy sessions should be billed only for 45 minutes (90834). Get to know this code, it is your friend. Most mental health clinicians and therapists should use code 90791 for billing for an intake interview and 90847 for family therapy.
The individual clinician is always responsible for ensuring they are using the most accurate and appropriate CPT billing code when billing for services provided, regardless of who does the actual billing on the clinician’s behalf.
A “facility” in the text below refers only to a hospital, surgical center, or skilled nursing facility. If you’re not providing services in one of those kinds of locations, you should use the “non-facility” coding. Most psychologists and therapists should use the “non-facility” coding, unless they are working in a hospital or related facility.
Neolytix has compiled this psychotherapy medical billing 101-guide to help mental health practices everywhere get up to speed with the new rules.
There are many CPT codes currently used by mental health professional that can be reported under the following categories:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines psychotherapy as:
Each CPT code describes a specific medical, diagnostic, or surgical procedure or service. These codes were created by the AMA to reflect the service rendered by the provider. In choosing a CPT code, the medical coder must select the code that best reflects the service rendered by the healthcare professional.
It is common for multiple healthcare professionals to work together in providing care for patients. When a non-physician provider furnishes services to a physician professional, incident-to guidelines are used for billing under the provider’s NPI.
Modifiers are used to show that a medical service or procedure has been altered by some specific circumstance but has not been changed in its definition or code.
Documentation plays the essential role of explaining the medical necessity of procedures rendered by the provider. All documentation must comply with legal/regulatory requirements of the state in which the provider practices.
Telehealth billing for therapists is an obvious need. Providers want to help clients who are unable to attend in person therapy for whatever reason: fear, disability, distance, or simply for ease of scheduling.
To ensure you get reimbursed for providing telehealth psychotherapy, always call each client’s insurance plan and ask about approval for telehealth therapy.
Every insurance company processes telehealth billing for therapists differently, so make sure to ask which CPT code and telehealth modifier to use.
This is a common misconception! While there are technically legacy CPT codes for teleleath therapy, these are not often used:
The correct insurance billing modifier to use for telehealth billing for therapists depends on the guidelines of the insurance company you’re billing.
The place of service code for most sessions are set in an office as “11” but for telehealth sessions the place of service code is “2”. The place of service code is posted on the CMS1500 under Box 24 section B.
Include all normal CMS1500 claim information but on Box 24, utilize the the more accurate CPT codes, place of service code, and modifier depending on the guidelines of your insurance company.
CPT coding for psychotherapy doesn’t have to be difficult! There are an overwhelming amount of total CPT Codes (~8,000), however only 24 are specifically designated for psychotherapy and other mental health services.
CPT codes are five digit numeric codes describing everything from surgery to radiology to psychotherapy. CPT Codes are different from Diagnosis Codes or ICD10 F-Codes for billing and coding your insurance claims. Here’s our mental health diagnosis code list if you need to look one up.
Adding another 30 minutes. (Only use if the duration of your session is at least 90 minutes for 90837 or 80 minutes for 90847). Add-On CPT Code 99355 – Additional time after first 60 minutes. First additional 30 to 74 minutes. Add-On CPT Code 90840 – 30 additional minutes of psychotherapy for crisis.
CPT is a large and dynamic code set that changes year to year, but the psychotherapy codes seldom change. The most recent change for psychotherapy codes took place in 2019, then 2013, and previously 1998.
Neuropsychological testing evaluation services by physician or other qualified health care professional, including integration of patient data, interpretation of standardized test results and clinical data, clinical decision making, treatment planning and report and interactive feedback to the patient, family member (s) or caregiver (s), when performed; first hour
Psychological testing evaluation services by physician or other qualified health care professional, including integration of patient data, interpretation of standardized test results and clinical data, clinical decision making, treatment planning and report and interactive feedback to the patient, family member (s) or caregiver (s), when performed; first hour
Neurobehavioral status exam (clinical assessment of thinking, reasoning and judgement, e.g., acquired knowledge, attention, language, memory, planning and problem solving, and visual spatial abilities), by physician or other qualified health care professional, both faceto-face time with the patient and time interpreting test results and preparing the report; first hour