What is CPT code 99401 billing guidelines?

Asked by: Nyah Padberg MD  |  Last update: March 24, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (75 votes)

Per CPT, codes 99401–99404 are used to report counseling addressing “such issues as family problems, diet and exercise, substance use, sexual practices, injury prevention, dental health, and diagnostic and laboratory test results available at the time of the encounter.”

What is the billing rule for 99401?

For example, the time element of code 99401, “Preventive medicine counseling and/or risk factor reduction intervention(s) provided to an individual (separate procedure); approximately 15 minutes,” is met when the physician spends at least eight minutes of face-to-face time counseling the patient.

Can a CPT 99401 be billed with 99214?

Yes, you can bill CPT 99214 and 99401 together, provided that the services rendered meet the criteria for each code. CPT 99401 should be utilized for preventive counseling specifically related to obesity management, while CPT 99214 covers the office visit with moderate medical decision-making.

Can you bill 99401 with modifier 25?

It is also possible to bill 99401 with modifier 25 on the same day as an EM code, if COVID vaccine counseling is provided. OIC Answer: Yes, a vaccine counseling code can be billed on the same day as a vaccine administration code is billed.

Are telehealth visits billed differently?

Medi-Cal pays the same rate for professional medical services provided by telehealth as it pays for services provided in-person. Please see the Payments and Claims section on this page.

What is a CPT Code in Medical Billing?

33 related questions found

What are the telehealth guidelines for 2024?

Before the COVID-19 PHE, patients needed to get telehealth at an originating site located in a certain geographic location. Through December 31, 2024, all patients can get telehealth wherever they're located. They don't need to be at an originating site, and there aren't any geographic restrictions.

How to bill 99213 and 99401 together?

Coding Tip:

Modifier 25 is required on 99213 to report codes 99213 and 99401 together.

What codes can be billed with modifier 25?

Medicare does require modifier 25 for E/M services provided in conjunction with other vaccine administration codes, including CPT codes 90480, 90460, 90461, 90471, 90472, 90473 and 90474. Private payers may have different policies.

What is the midpoint rule in CPT?

CPT® has long had a unit of time rule that a unit of time is met when the midpoint has passed. That is, you've reached an hour after 31 minutes. There are many CPT® codes that follow this mid-point time rule including critical care, psychotherapy, and physical and occupational therapy services that are time based.

Can a dietitian bill 99401?

A: No. CPT code 99401 is an E/M code which Registered Dietitians should not use to report services because they are nonphysician health care professionals. There are more accurate codes that identify and describe Medical Nutrition Therapy to be reported by Registered Dieticians, such as, CPT 97802.

Can you bill a telehealth and office visit on the same day?

E-visits should not be billed on the same day the physician reports an office visit E/M service (CPT codes 99202-99205 and 99211-99215) for the same patient. Additionally, e-visits should not be billed when using the following codes for the same communication: 99091.

What is CPT code 99401 for obesity?

The CPT codes most likely to be recognized by commercial payers are: • 99401 – preventive medicine counseling and/or risk factor intervention/s provided to an individual (separate procedure);

Can you bill 99401 with 99214?

Reimbursement for 99401 is typically on the order of $30-40. While not a princely sum, this is typically a service done in addition to pharmacotherapy management. Apply a 25 modifier, denoting a separate service on the same visit, and this will earn an extra $35 on your standard 99214 reimbursement.

What is the modifier 22 guideline?

This modifier is used to identify a service that requires significantly greater effort, such as increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required, than is usually needed for that procedure.

How do I bill for extended therapy sessions?

Billing Extended Sessions for Individual Therapy

It's important to note that if you are seeing a client for 60 minutes or under, make sure to bill using CPT codes 90832, 90834, or 90837 alone. Do not bill using add-on codes if sessions are not extended. Services performed outside of business hours.

Can you add modifier 25 to 99214?

Yes, you can add modifier 25 to CPT code 99214 if a significant, separately identifiable E/M service is performed on the same day as another procedure.

Can you bill 99213 and 20610 together?

Per CCI edits, CPT codes 20610-RT and 99213-25 cannot be billed together; however a modifier is allowed with supporting documentation.

How to bill 99401?

Code 99401 is described as preventive counseling of approximately 15 minutes and can be reported for 8-22 minutes of counseling by a physician or other qualified health care professional. See 99402-99404 for services of 23 minutes or more.

What is the modifier 25 for 99401?

Then part of Modifier 25 definition: " significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management (E/M) service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional on the same day of the procedure or other service."

How do I bill a nebulizer treatment with an office visit?

You should submit the appropriate evaluation and management (E/M) office visit code, the code for the nebulizer treatment (94640, “Pressurized or nonpressurized inhalation treatment for acute airway obstruction or for sputum induction for diagnostic purposes (e.g., with an aerosol generator, nebulizer, metered dose ...

Do you use 95 or GT modifier for telehealth?

The two most commonly used modifiers are the GT modifier for telehealth service rendered via interactive audio and video telecommunications systems, and the 95 modifier for synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video communications system.

What is the difference between telehealth and telemedicine?

While telemedicine refers specifically to remote clinical services, telehealth can refer to remote non-clinical services, such as provider training, administrative meetings, and continuing medical education, in addition to clinical services. There are several other ways to define telehealth.

How do you bill a telehealth visit?

Coding for Telehealth and Other Outpatient Remote Services
  1. 99202-99205: Office/outpatient E/M visit, new patient.
  2. 99211-99215: Office/outpatient E/M visit, established patient.
  3. G0425-G0427: Consultations, emergency department or initial inpatient (Medicare only)