Medical Billing Forum

Coding => Coding => : jerryredd November 20, 2014, 03:18:32 PM

: Mental Health coding
: jerryredd November 20, 2014, 03:18:32 PM
I am pretty comfortable with medical billing because I have been billing for 20+ years.  I am working for a mental health provider now and have a few questions about mental health coding.  We bill a 90837 for a 1 hr visit for $100.  We have started doing 1 1/2 hr sessions when needed.  How do I bill for that?  I looked into it and mental health coding changed a little last year.  It looks like the 90837 code is good for any session from 53 minutes up to 90 minutes.  Is that correct?  Any ideas?
: Re: Mental Health coding
: Michele November 20, 2014, 04:19:23 PM
The 90837 is the highest level for outpatient individual psychotherapy.
: Re: Mental Health coding
: rdmoore2003 November 21, 2014, 05:16:18 PM
The 90837 is for 53-60 minutes.  If a patient is seen longer, 90839 can be used, ONLY, if it is documented as a crisis.   If it is not a crisis, 90837 is the highest level you can code. 
: Re: Mental Health coding
: PMRNC November 21, 2014, 06:06:59 PM
Agree with Regina, you also want to make sure you have authorization for the right code.