Billing codes

The following are commonly used codes to bill for psychiatric services. If you are calling your insurance company to find out about reimbursement, ask about the boldfaced ones.

99205 – Initial evaluation

Evaluation & Management (E/M) codes (used for all my patients):
99212 – Outpatient Office E/M of established patient, straightforward
99213 – Outpatient Office E/M of established patient, low complexity
99214 – Outpatient Office E/M of established patient, medium complexity
99215 – Outpatient Office E/M of established patient, high complexity

“add-on” codes that are used in conjunction with the above E/M codes:
90833 – plus psychotherapy, 16-37 mins
90836 – plus psychotherapy, 38-52 mins
<– for majority of 50 minute therapy sessions
90838 – plus psychotherapy, >52 mins

Other psychotherapy codes:
90846 – For children: Family psychotherapy, patient not present
90847 – For children: Family psychotherapy, patient present

For messages requiring medical advice:
99421 – Online digital evaluation and management service, for an established patient, for up to 7 days, cumulative time during the 7 days; 5–10 minutes
99422 – Online digital evaluation and management service, for an established patient, for up to 7 days, cumulative time during the 7 days; 11–20 minutes
99423 – Online digital evaluation and management service, for an established patient, for up to 7 days, cumulative time during the 7 days; 21 or more minutes

For telephone calls:
99441 – telephone E/M service; 5-10 minutes of medical discussion
99442 – telephone E/M service; 11-20 minutes of medical discussion
99443 – telephone E/M service; 20 or more minutes of medical discussion

Miscellaneous codes:
90885 – Records review
90887 – Communication with treatment team
90889 – Report preparation
90899 – Unlisted service