2024 CPT Code Updates for Mental Health Billing

Key Changes for 2024

The American Medical Association (AMA) has released significant updates to CPT codes affecting mental health and behavioral health billing for 2024. These changes are designed to better reflect the complexity of psychiatric services and improve reimbursement accuracy.

New Psychotherapy Codes

Several new codes have been introduced to capture the nuances of modern psychotherapy delivery:

• 90832 - Psychotherapy, 30 minutes with patient (updated documentation requirements)
• 90834 - Psychotherapy, 45 minutes with patient (revised time thresholds)
• 90837 - Psychotherapy, 60 minutes with patient (enhanced modifier guidelines)

Telehealth Billing Updates

Telehealth services continue to be a vital component of mental health care delivery. Key updates include:

• Extended telehealth flexibilities through December 2024
• New place of service (POS) codes for audio-only services
• Updated modifier requirements for synchronous vs. asynchronous care
• Clarified documentation standards for virtual check-ins

Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation Changes

The codes for psychiatric diagnostic evaluations have been refined:

• 90791 - Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation without medical services
• 90792 - Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation with medical services

Both codes now require more detailed documentation of the patient's mental status examination and risk assessment.

Crisis Intervention Services

New codes specifically address crisis intervention and emergency psychiatric services:

• 90839 - Psychotherapy for crisis, first 60 minutes
• 90840 - Each additional 30 minutes (add-on code)

Documentation Best Practices

To ensure proper reimbursement under the new codes, mental health providers should:

1. Document exact start and stop times for all timed services
2. Include detailed mental status examinations
3. Clearly indicate the modality of service delivery (in-person, telehealth, audio-only)
4. Maintain thorough treatment plans with measurable goals
5. Document medical necessity for all services provided

Impact on Reimbursement

These updates are expected to have a positive impact on reimbursement rates for mental health services. Practices that properly implement these changes and maintain compliant documentation can expect:

• Improved claim acceptance rates
• Reduced denials and appeals
• Better capture of service complexity
• Enhanced revenue cycle efficiency

Action Steps for Practices

Mental health practices should take the following steps to prepare for these changes:

1. Update practice management and EHR systems with new codes
2. Train clinical and billing staff on documentation requirements
3. Review and update fee schedules
4. Verify payer-specific policies for new codes
5. Conduct internal audits to ensure compliance