Our primary care clinic just brought on board a clinical social worker. Do I code these encounters the same way I would code a social worker in the psychology clinic? The clinical social worker said the only difference between being a clinical and a counseling social worker is that a clinical social worker can actually diagnose patients - so are they performing the same services, just with the addition of using a diagnosis?
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Wiki Clinical Social Worker Coding
- Thread starter mkm1517
- Start date
LCSW's don't bill E/M services. They have an entirely separate set of rules. There are also a minimal number of CPT codes that they use. Depending upon what type of service your counselor is performing, they normally have one session a week with a client (they like to refer to "patients" as clients, at least the ones I've dealt with) & that code is a 90806
The most commonly used codes for LCSWs are 90801, 90802, 90806, 90808, 90812, 90814, 90846, & 90847.
They also use a "DSM-IV" code as their ICD-9 diagnosis code. You always want to double check for specificity.
The most commonly used codes for LCSWs are 90801, 90802, 90806, 90808, 90812, 90814, 90846, & 90847.
They also use a "DSM-IV" code as their ICD-9 diagnosis code. You always want to double check for specificity.
DSM doesn't always "crosswalk" to the correct ICD-9 codes. We just had this problem with Asperger's and Pervasive Developmental Disorder diagnoses are being coded as Rhett's. We just changed our EHR and the new EHR uses ICD-9. This has sent our clinicans into a panic. lol
There is also the possiblity that they will be providing Health and Behavior Assessments, which is different than treating the mental illness.
There is also the possiblity that they will be providing Health and Behavior Assessments, which is different than treating the mental illness.
non_ee
Contributor
Telephone visits for LCSW. I think I'm correct that you still use the 90791 for diagnostic interview for individual.
Would you bill the same if it was a family interview husband and wife both on the line for grief counseling?
Would you bill the same if it was a family interview husband and wife both on the line for grief counseling?
SharonCollachi
Guest
Since this thread is 9 yrs old, you might want to start a new thread.