Billing a 99215 med mngmt/therapy

[liloe517]

Psychiatry E&M billing would follow the same guidelines as any other specialty, correct? I have a psychiatrist who is doing med management and about 15-20 minutes of counseling at each monthly session and is wanting to charge a 99215 for each visit. Would this be appropriate?

 

[ckeeney]

Counseling as therapy are add-on codes and that time would not be considered for the E&M level. Consult the guidelines for counseling under the E&M Service Guidelines. Also those for psychotherapy services (90832-90838).

 

[liloe517]

So that means he should be billing a 99213 for the med management and then a 90832 for the therapy, correct?

 

[Cavalier40]

Basically you would code the e/m based on 1995 or 1997 guidelines. A mental health provider billing a 99215 is unlikely.

There are 2 add on codes that allow for psychotherapy that happens in conjunction with an e/m.

90833 is the 30 minute add on code
90836 is the 45 minute add on code

keep in mind that these codes have to be billed with the e/m code. From my understanding the psychotherapy portion must be documented separately from the e/m services and time stamped.

Hope this helps.

 

[liloe517]

Thank you very much for the info!!! Very helpful!

 

[Cavalier40]

I should also add that 90838 is the 60 minute add on code. It didn't come to mine since none of my practitioners ever have to use it.