Tips for Billing Mental Health Services
Billing for mental health services within a primary care setting can be a challenge, due in part to the variability in requirements across private and public insurers.
Mental health services, for which billing may prove a challenge, include:
- Screening and treatment of mental health problems (e.g. depression);
- Coordination and case management;
- Consultation with other providers;
- Use of telemedicine for service provision (important in rural areas);
BILLING FOR ACTUAL TIME OF SERVICE:
Many physicians spend a significant amount of time engaged in counseling patients or coordinating patient care. The CPT nomenclature for Evaluation and Management (E/M) coding defines counseling as a discussion with the patient and / or family or other caregiver concerning one or more of the following areas: Diagnostic results, impressions, and / or recommended diagnostic studies, Prognosis, Risks and benefits of management (treatment) options, Instructions for management (treatment) and / or follow-up, Importance of compliance with chosen management (treatment) options, Risk factor reduction, Patient and family education.
Looking for Mental Health Billing Services? Use the ‘Contact Us’ tab at the top to inquire with UnisLink for more information.
