Wiki Behavioral Health Visit split between patient & parent. How do you bill?

[AmyLitterell]

Hello! I'm fairly new to behavioral health billing (6 months) and just got a call from one of my therapists. She asked how to code for a visit where she split the time between meeting with the patients parents for 25 minutes and then meeting with the patient for 20 minutes instead of the usual meeting with the patient for 45 minutes. Would this get billed as a 90847? Instead of 90834? Or just a 90832? and not account for the time with the parents?

Thank you
Amy

 

[gpbhanu]

I'm also new to behavioral health billing. CPT guidelines--- Do not report 90846 and 90847 for family psychotherapy services less than 26 minutes.I think therapy with the patient for 20 minutes--90832.

 

[lindaagain4@aol.com]

The CPT codes 90832, 90834 and 90837 can include family members. Most therapist take time either at the beginning or the end of the session to meet with the parents. This can be billed as a regular full 45 minute therapy session 90834 if the whole session was pertaining to the child. If the parents come without the child, it is appropriate to bill 90846. The coding is based who the focus of care is for. If it is family issues, 90847 if the family accompanies a child and care is for that child, you can use the regular therapy CPT codes 90832, 90834 and 90837. Hope that helps!