Report Writing and Report Reviews

[krjohnson]

I have providers who occasionally bill for time spent writing and reviewing reports or other clinical information.   Is there a CPT code to bill insurance for this?  I know they usually only cover face-to-face time but some of our patients request I bill it even though it will get denied.  Thanks for your help.

[medauthor]

99080, but it is very payer specific...

[krjohnson]

What about 90885 and 90889?  Is that what I would use since we are mental health??

[PMRNC]

In Mental health the 90885 is usually included in the fee for the initial eval (90801-90857)  The 90889 would be considered  incidental (preparation of the report) and not separately payable.

[vchisam]

I bill 90899 for treatment plans prepared by mental health providers. But, I send these on paper with an explanation attached stating what is being billed.

Sometimes they are paid - sometimes they are denied. When denied, we write off.

[PMRNC]

Why do you write it off?

[vchisam]

We write off because the insurance carrier will deny the charge as "not a covered service" and no patient responsibility

[PMRNC]

Ok, but why are you billing the report separately?  But wait, previously you stated you file the charge for the "treatment" report.. So I am now confused. Are you billing for the report OR treatment plan? You can't bill for the treatment plan since it is part of the plan that helps the carrier determine the amount of visits they will allow/authorize.  A report is different and is usually billed along with the charge for the testing or whatever you are reporting.