Billing for telebehavioral health
Learn more about policies and reimbursement for telehealth services.
On this page:
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 code | Description | Time | Audio-only coverage | Permanent coverage for telehealth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G0444 | Annual depression screening | 5-15 min | Yes | Yes |
| 90785 | Psychotherapy with interactive complexity | N/A | Yes | Yes |
| 90791 | Psychological diagnostic evaluation | Up to 90 min | Yes | Yes |
| 90792 | Psychological diagnostic evaluation with medical services | 1-2 hours | Yes | Yes |
| 90832 | Psychotherapy, no medical evaluation | 16-37 min | Yes | Yes |
| 90833 | Psychotherapy, with medical evaluation | 30 min | Yes | Yes |
| 90834 | Psychotherapy, no medical evaluation | 38-52 min | Yes | Yes |
| 90836 | Psychotherapy, with medical evaluation | 45 min | Yes | Yes |
| 90837 | Psychotherapy, no medical evaluation | 53 or more min | Yes | Yes |
| 90838 | Psychotherapy, with medical evaluation | 60 min | Yes | Yes |
| 90839 | Psychotherapy for crisis | 60 min | Yes | Yes |
| 90840 | Psychotherapy for crisis | Additional 30 min | Yes | Yes |
| 90845 | Psychoanalysis | N/A | Yes | Yes |
| 90846 | Family psychotherapy without patient | 26 or more min | Yes | Yes |
| 90847 | Family psychotherapy with patient | 26 or more min | Yes | Yes |
| 90853 | Group psychotherapy | 46-60 min | Yes | Yes |
Outpatient visit
| CPT/HCPCs code | Description | Time | Audio-only coverage | Permanent coverage for telehealth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98960 | Self-management, individual patient | 30 min | No | No |
| 98961 | Self-management training, group (2-4 individuals) | 30 min | No | No |
| 98962 | Self-management training, group (5-8 individuals) | 30 min | No | No |
| 99211 | Outpatient visit (established patient) | 5 min | No | Yes |
| 99212 | Outpatient visit (established patient) | 10-19 min | No | Yes |
| 99213 | Outpatient visit (established patient) | 20-29 min | No | Yes |
| 99214 | Outpatient visit (established patient) | 30-39 min | No | Yes |
| 99215 | Outpatient visit (established patient) | 40-55 min | No | Yes |
| G2212 | Prolonged outpatient visit | Additional 15 min | Yes | Yes |
Tobacco and substance use
| CPT/HCPCs codes | Description | Time | Audio-only coverage | Permanent coverage for telehealth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99406 | Tobacco and smoking cessation counseling | 3-10 min | Yes | Yes |
| 99407 | Tobacco and smoking cessation counseling | 10 or more min | Yes | Yes |
| G0396 | Alcohol and substance misuse assessment | 15-30 min | Yes | Yes |
| G0397 | Alcohol and substance misuse assessment | 30 or more min | Yes | Yes |
| G0442 | Alcohol and substance misuse screening | 5-15 min | Yes | Yes |
| G0443 | Alcohol and substance misuse counseling | 5-15 min | Yes | Yes |
| G2086 | Treatment for opioid use disorder, first month | 70 or more min | Yes | Yes |
| G2087 | Treatment for opioid use disorder, subsequent months | 60 or more min | Yes | Yes |
| G2088 | Treatment for opioid use disorder | Additional 30 min | Yes | Yes |
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 providers- what should I know? (PDF) — Health Resources and Services Administration
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