What are the 4 types of mental health and how to bill for them?
Mental health billing comes from many different forms and from different types of providers. Knowing the different types of mental health disorders can help you navigate, first, what the type of provider is needed and then, second, what CPT is used and how to bill for them.
There are actually many different types of mental health disorders, and they can be classified in various ways. However, one common classification system divides mental health disorders into four broad categories:
Mood disorders
Mood disorders: These are disorders that affect a person’s emotional state, such as depression, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder.
Anxiety disorders
These are disorders that involve excessive fear or worry, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
Psychotic disorders
These are disorders that affect a person’s thinking, perception, and sense of reality, such as schizophrenia and delusional disorder.
Personality disorders
These are disorders that affect a person’s patterns of behavior, thinking, and relating to others, such as borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder.
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)
In terms of billing, mental health disorders are typically covered by health insurance plans. Mental health professionals who provide treatment for these disorders can bill for their services using certain billing codes, such as Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. The specific codes used will depend on the type of service provided (such as individual therapy, group therapy, or medication management) and the type of provider (such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed clinical social worker). It’s important to note that insurance coverage and billing procedures can vary depending on the specific insurance plan and provider.
Diagnosis Codes
It is also worth a mention that depending on what the patient’s diagnosis also plays a factor in whether or not the insurance company will cover the CPT code that the provider submits on the claim.
In conjunction with both the CPT and Diagnosis code, mental health providers are able to submit patient claims for reimbursement for their services. Mental health medical billers are able to streamline this process and shorten the revenue cycle in addition to reducing the cost of staff and other expenses.
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