Billing and Coding

This section contains information that psychologists need to know about the new CPT^® codes for psychotherapy that take effect Jan. 1, 2013. Psychologists will use the codes when billing Medicare and all insurance carriers.

• The 2013 Psychotherapy Codes: An Overview for Psychologists

• Frequently asked questions about the 2013 psychotherapy codes

2013 Payments

• New FAQS on Private Insurers’ Implementation of 2013 Psychotherapy CPT Codes

• Approximate 2013 national Medicare payment rates for psychological services

• 2013 Medicare payments for psychologists

• 2013 Medicare payment rate update

2013 Codes Lists

• 2013 Psychotherapy CPT^® Codes for Psychologists (PDF, 280KB)

• Crosswalk of 2012 Psychotherapy CPT^® Codes to 2013 Codes 

History of psychology's involvement with the codes

• Psychotherapy codes survey now complete

• Psychology participates in psychotherapy codes survey

• Getting Started with Insurance and Managed Care (Flash)

• Insurance Reimbursement: How to Complete the CMS-1500 (Flash)

• 10 Tips for Resolving Issues with Insurance Companies 

• Insurance Claims 101 — Avoiding Common Payment Pitfalls 

• Using a Sliding Fee Schedule  (PDF, 255 KB)

• Billing for Your Services: Common Q&As

• Six Tips for Handling Claims Denials 

• Matter of Law: Managing Your Managed Care Contracts 

• Integrated Health Care: How to Use Health & Behavior CPT^® Codes (Flash)

• FAQs on Billing for Health and Behavior Services 

• Practitioners Find Many Benefits in Using Health and Behavior Codes 

• Medicare Milestone: All Carriers Now Cover Health and Behavior Services

• Health and Behavior CPT^® Codes 

This Testing Codes Toolkit from the APA Practice Organization contains information and material to help explain the proper use of the psychological and neuropsychological CPT^® testing codes, payment for these codes and advocating with health insurance companies for appropriate reimbursement.

The following document contains clarification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to questions frequently raised about the billing codes.

• Psychotherapy codes survey now complete

• Psychology participates in psychotherapy codes survey

• CMS issues clarification on billing codes for testing services

• Responses from CMS to common billing questions  (PDF, 142KB)

2006 Testing Codes Toolkit

The testing codes were revised in 2006 to enable psychologists and physicians to bill for testing services administered by a technician or computer. These materials were originally posted in 2006, and still contain current information relevant to the use of these codes.

Read about the APA Practice Organization's latest efforts to address problems with payment for testing services: 

• Introduction to the Toolkit  (PDF, 60KB)

• Summary of Changes to the Codes for 2006  (PDF, 63KB)

• Q&A About Using the Technician Billing Code  (PDF, 47KB)

• Q&A About Using the Computer Billing Code  (PDF, 61KB)

• Q&A About Carrier Implementation of the Codes  (PDF, 66KB)

• APA Division 40 Technician Policy  (PDF, 67KB)

• AACN Technician Policy  (PDF, 60KB)

• NAN Technician Policy  (PDF, 66KB)

Note: The information in the Testing Codes Toolkit is subject to change and updating as the revised testing codes are implemented. The information provided here does not constitute legal advice and should not be used as a substitute for obtaining necessary personal legal advice and consultation prior to making decisions regarding individual circumstances.

For help with questions about or billing problems related to the revised testing codes, contact the APA Practice Directorate’s Government Relations Department at (202) 336-5889

Current procedural terminology (CPT) copyright 2011 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.