Billing nutrition counseling services may not be as straight-forward as you might think. Some providers mistakenly choose Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) codes ( 97802 - 97804 , G0270 , G0271) because it states nutrition therapy in the title.
The suggested coding for counseling for a healthy diet includes 99401-99404, 99411-99412, 99078, 97802-97804, G0447, S9452, S9470 as preventive with Z71.3 (ICD-10-CM). Refer to the information below for screening and other services not subject to PPACA.
The only exception is if the patient has preventative nutrition services covered on their insurance policy (which many patients do under the Affordable Care Act ). Then we can use the ICD-10 code of Z71.3 plus the patient’s BMI code on the claim. Aside from that ladies – that’s all for now.
Z71- Persons encountering health services for other counseling and medical advice, not elsewhere classified Z71.3 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM Z71.3 became effective on October 1, 2021.
InformationCodeDescriptionS9470Nutritional counseling, dietitian visit97802Medical nutrition therapy; initial assessment and intervention, individual, face-to-face with the patient, each 15 minutes97803re-assessment and intervention, individual, face-to-face with the patient, each 15 minutes25 more rows•Apr 20, 2021
The most common CPT codes dietitians can use to bill are : 97802, 97803 and 97804. The CPT codes 97802 and 97803 represent codes dietitians use to bill for individual MNT visits.
Obesity screening and counseling 9 or E66. 01 (ICD-10- CM).
ICD-Code E66* is a non-billable ICD-10 code used for healthcare diagnosis reimbursement of Overweight and Obesity. Its corresponding ICD-9 code is 278. Code E66* is the diagnosis code used for Overweight and Obesity.
The most common CPT codes dietitians can use to bill are : 97802, 97803 and 97804. The CPT codes 97802 and 97803 represent codes dietitians use to bill for individual MNT visits. While the CPT code 97804 would be used to bill for groups of patients of two or more.
A: No. CPT code 99401 is an E/M code which Registered Dietitians should not use to report services because they are nonphysician health care professionals. There are more accurate codes that identify and describe Medical Nutrition Therapy to be reported by Registered Dieticians, such as, CPT 97802.
Listen to pronunciation. (DY-uh-TAYR-ee KOWN-suh-ling) A process by which a health professional with special training in nutrition helps people make healthy food choices and form healthy eating habits.
Preventative Counseling (CPT 99401-9941) The standard obesity medicine behavioral counseling codes are 99401-99412. These codes are used to report services for the purpose of promoting health and preventing illness. Typically, the 5-A's approach i.e., ask, advise, assess, assist, and arrange is used.
Z71.82Z71. 82 Exercise counseling - ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes.
ICD-10 code: R63. 5 Abnormal weight gain | gesund.bund.de.
Medical nutrition therapy provided by a registered dietitian involves the assessment of the person’s overall nutritional status followed by the assignment of individualized diet, counseling, and/or specialized nutrition therapies to treat a chronic illness or condition. Medical nutrition therapy has been integrated into the treatment guidelines for a number of chronic diseases, including
Registered dietitians, working in a coordinated, multi-disciplinary team effort with the primary care physician, take into account a person’s food intake, physical activity, course of any medical therapy including medications and other treatments, individual preferences, and other factors.
This recommendation applies to adults aged 18 years or older in primary care settings who are overweight or obese and have known CVD risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, impaired fasting glucose, or the metabolic syndrome).
The USPSTF recommends that clinicians should offer or refer patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher to intensive, multicomponent behavioral interventions.
Aetna considers nutritional counseling of unproven value for conditions that have not been shown to be nutritionally related, including but not limited to asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Some providers mistakenly choose Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) codes ( 97802 - 97804 , G0270 , G0271) because it states nutrition therapy in the title.
MNT codes ( 97802 - 97804 , G0270 , G0271) are timed codes which are to be used by registered dieticians/nutritionists who can NOT report Evaluation and Management (E/M) codes. Use codes ( 97802 - 97804) for the original referral for an initial and/or subsequent visit.
Another possibility could be the 99401 - 99404 timed codes which are far less comprehensive than the previously listed preventive medicine codes and do not require the history and exam. Therefore, they are paid at a lesser rate (e.g., Medicare allowed $36 for 99401 vs $155 for 99386 ).
The terms “overweight” and “obesity” are sometimes used interchangeably by providers. Coders should be aware of the difference to select the correct diagnosis code. The most common way to determine the correct diagnosis code is to use the patient’s body mass index (BMI).
Treatment for obesity can span anywhere from therapy to surgery. Obviously, surgery should be the last resort and limited to those who are truly severely morbidly obese. Regardless of obesity class, patients may benefit from MNT, so let’s look at those codes.
For payers such as Medicare that accept HCPCS Level II codes, choose from the following two codes when there has been a change in the patient’s diagnosis, condition, or treatment regimen:
If the patient is not necessarily obese or does not receive nutrition-specific counseling, look to 99401-99404 and 99411-99412. These are preventive medicine codes, so you cannot bill them if the patient does not have a specific illness.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the obesity epidemic. According to usnews.com, in 2020, 16 states had adult obesity rates at or above 35 percent, up from 12 states the previous year.
They are formerly referred to as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), 10th Revision, Clinical Modification. These codes describe an individual’s disease or medical condition. Physicians determine the patient’s diagnosis and chart this in their medical record.
Please note the BMI codes are not necessarily linear. Meaning, if an adult patient has a BMI of 44 you would use Z68.41 NOT Z68.44. Once you start billing insurance companies (which if you aren’t already – hopefully will be doing SOON !)
For adults, dietitians use ICD-10 codes Z68.1 – Z68.45. BMI adult codes are for use for persons 21 years and older. For pediatric patients (age 2-20 years old), dietitians can use ICD-10 codes Z68.51 – Z68.54. Please note the BMI codes are not necessarily linear. Meaning, if an adult patient has a BMI of 44 you would use Z68.41 NOT Z68.44.
It should also have a spot for the doctor to put the proper ICD-10 code and a brief description of the ICD-10. There should be a spot for the doctor to sign, date and document his/her NPI. The nutrition referral form can be faxed to the doctor.
The ONLY exception in which a dietitian can determine a diagnosis is in the case of BMI codes. It is within the scope of practice of a dietitian to calculate a patient’s BMI code. Depending on a patient’s particular insurance and policy, BMI code can often be used with the preventative code Z71.3. This code is a billable ICD code used ...