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Telehealth for behavioral health care

Billing for telebehavioral health

Learn more about policies and reimbursement for telehealth services.

Medicare

Medicare policies for telehealth continue to evolve. For the latest information, view the list of telehealth services. The following Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes are frequently used to bill for telehealth services. Coding guidance is subject to change.

Mental health

CPT/HCPCs codeDescriptionTimePermanent coverage for telehealth
G0444Annual depression screening5-15 minYes
90785Psychotherapy with interactive complexityN/AYes
90791Psychological diagnostic evaluation Up to 90 minYes
90792Psychological diagnostic evaluation with medical services1-2 hoursYes
90832Psychotherapy, no medical evaluation16-37 minYes
90833Psychotherapy, with medical evaluation30 minYes
90834Psychotherapy, no medical evaluation38-52 minYes
90836Psychotherapy, with medical evaluation45 minYes
90837Psychotherapy, no medical evaluation53 or more minYes
90838Psychotherapy, with medical evaluation60 minYes
90839Psychotherapy for crisis60 minYes
90840Psychotherapy for crisisAdditional 30 minYes
90845PsychoanalysisN/AYes
90846Family psychotherapy without patient26 or more minYes
90847Family psychotherapy with patient26 or more minYes
90853Group psychotherapy46-60 minYes

Outpatient visit

CPT/HCPCs codeDescriptionTimePermanent coverage for telehealth
98960Self-management, individual patient30 minNo
98961Self-management training, group (2-4 individuals)30 minNo
98962Self-management training, group (5-8 individuals)30 minNo
99211Outpatient visit (established patient)5 minYes
99212Outpatient visit (established patient)10-19 minYes
99213Outpatient visit (established patient)20-29 minYes
99214Outpatient visit (established patient)30-39 minYes
99215Outpatient visit (established patient)40-55 minYes
G2212Prolonged outpatient visitAdditional 15 minYes

Tobacco and substance use

CPT/HCPCs codesDescriptionTimePermanent coverage for telehealth
99406Tobacco and smoking cessation counseling3-10 minYes
99407Tobacco and smoking cessation counseling10 or more minYes
G0396Alcohol and substance misuse assessment15-30 minYes
G0397Alcohol and substance misuse assessment30 or more minYes
G0442Alcohol and substance misuse screening5-15 minYes
G0443Alcohol and substance misuse counseling5-15 minYes
G2086Treatment for opioid use disorder, first month70 or more minYes
G2087Treatment for opioid use disorder, subsequent months60 or more minYes
G2088Treatment for opioid use disorderAdditional 30 minYes

Medicaid

Each state has its own billing and reimbursement policies. For tips on Medicaid policies, visit Medicaid and Medicare overview.

Did you know?

Providers can share information with patients on free online behavioral health services, including:

Private insurance

Find out if the patient has private insurance. If so, check with the patient's insurance company for information on their billing and reimbursement policies. For tips on private insurance policies, look up policy by jurisdiction.

More information:

Billing for telehealth — Health Resources and Services Administration

Medicare and Medicaid policies — Health Resources and Services Administration

Medicare payment policies — Health Resources and Services Administration

Telehealth policy — Health Resources and Services Administration

Medicare & Mental Health Coverage (PDF) — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Understanding telehealth policy — National Telehealth Policy Resource Center