How to Bill for Mental Health Services?

Mental Health Services: A Practical Guide for Providers

Billing for mental health services isn’t just about sending invoices it’s a complex process involving insurance policies, accurate coding, and regulatory compliance. If you’re a provider or practice owner, mastering this process ensures you get paid fairly and on time. This guide will break it down into manageable steps and point you toward tools and services that can help streamline everything.

 

1. Understand the Basics of Mental Health Billing

Mental health billing involves submitting claims for therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and other behavioral services. These services often require pre-authorization and must be billed using correct CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes.

Key elements to understand:

• Diagnosis codes (ICD-10)
• Procedure codes (CPT/HCPCS)
• Insurance verification
• Patient eligibility checks

Learn more on our Mental Health Billing Services page.

 

2. Verify Insurance Before Every Visit

Mental health coverage varies by plan. Before a session, always verify:

• Insurance eligibility
• Mental health benefits
• Authorization requirements
• Copays and deductibles

Doing this step upfront prevents denials and helps you estimate patient responsibility accurately.

 

3. Use the Correct CPT Codes

Billing accuracy depends on using the right codes. Common ones for mental health include:

• 90791 – Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation
• 90834 – 45-minute individual psychotherapy
• 90837 – 60-minute individual psychotherapy
• 90853 – Group therapy

Mistakes in coding can result in denials, so stay up-to-date and review guidelines from the American Psychological Association.

 

4. Choose the Right Medical Billing Software

Manual billing can lead to human error, delays, and loss of revenue. A reliable medical billing software for mental health can automate coding, verify insurance, and track denials.

Choosing the right software also plays a vital role explore our best medical billing software for mental health to simplify your workflow.

 

5. Stay on Top of Claim Denials

Denied or rejected claims can eat into your revenue. Track denial patterns, correct errors, and resubmit promptly. It’s best to have a dedicated team or service to handle this. EZ  Settle Solutions offers comprehensive denial management services to help recover revenue quickly and prevent future issues.

 

6. Partner with a Specialized Medical Billing Company

Mental health billing is unique. Partnering with a billing company that understands its nuances can reduce overhead, improve collections, and help you focus on patient care. At EZ  Settle Solutions, we specialize in behavioral health billing with tailored solutions for private practices, group practices, and clinics. From claims submission to denial management, we’ve got you covered.

 

Final Thoughts

Billing for mental health services doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By understanding codes, verifying insurance, and using the right tools and services, you can keep your revenue cycle healthy and predictable. Ready to take the guesswork out of billing? Contact EZ Settle Solutions today to streamline your practice and maximize reimbursements.