Billing and Coding: Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation and Psychotherapy Services

This billing and coding guidance clarifies appropriate use of psychiatric diagnostic evaluation and psychotherapy CPT/HCPCS codes, emphasizing time-based coding rules (document start/stop or total time) and correct code selection by face-to-face psychotherapy duration. It restricts certain combinations (e.g., crisis psychotherapy codes with 90791/90792), requires supporting medical record documentation including ICD-10 support and signatures, and defines unit/time rules for codes such as G0560 (20-minute units), 90832–90838 (specific minute ranges), and 90845 (one per daily session).

"Psychotherapy for crisis (CPT 90839, 90840, HCPCS G0017, G0018) is covered when reporting the total face-to-face duration of crisis psychotherapy provided to the patient and/or family, with the pat..."

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