Monitor on Psychology - May 2012 - (Page 16b)

APA PRACTICE ORGANIZATION | apapracticecentral.org H & B Codes at a Glance Medicare and a growing number of private insurers reimburse psychologists for H & B services. The six H & B codes, the service involved with each code and national Medicare reimbursement amounts for 2012 appear in the chart below. CPT Code® * Service Initial assessment of the patient to determine the biopsychosocial factors affecting the patient’s physical health and any treatment problems. Reassessment of the patient to evaluate the patient’s condition and determine the need for further treatment. A reassessment may be performed by a clinician other than the one who conducted the patient’s initial assessment. Intervention service provided to an individual to modify the behavioral, cognitive and biopsychosocial factors affecting the patient’s physical health. Examples include increasing the patient’s awareness about his or her disease and using cognitive and behavioral approaches to initiate physicianprescribed diet and exercise regimens. Intervention service provided to a group. An example is a smoking-cessation program that includes educational information, cognitive-behavioral treatment and social support. The national payment amounts noted in the chart are subject to a geographic adjustment. Psychologists should check with their local Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for the exact payment rate in their geographic area. 2012 National Medicare Rates 15 min. (1 unit): $20.42 1 hour (4 units): $81.68 96150 96151 15 min. (1 unit): $19.74 1 hour (4 units): $78.96 96152 15 min. (1 unit): $18.72 1 hour (4 units): $74.88 96153 15 min. (1 unit): $4.42 1 hour (4 units): $17.68 Note: Payment amount is per person. The total group fee equals the amount above multiplied by the number of persons in the group. 96154 Intervention service provided to a family with the patient present. For example, a psychologist could use relaxation techniques with both a diabetic child and his or her parents to reduce the child’s fear of receiving injections and the parents’ tension when administering the injections. Intervention service provided to a family without the patient present. An example would be working with parents and siblings to shape a diabetic child’s behavior. Important note: Medicare and many private insurers exclude coverage for 96155 since the patient is not present for the intervention. 15 min. (1 unit): $18.38 1 hour (4 units): $73.52 96155 Medicare does not pay for this H & B code. *Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Copyright 2011. American Medical Association. All rights reserved. http://www.apapracticecentral.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - May 2012

Monitor on Psychology - May 2012
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
From the CEO
Math + science + motherhood = a tough combination
The rights of indigenous people take center stage at AAAS meeting
Interdisciplinary programs that are leading the way
Good Governance Project moves into its next phase
APA publishes third edition of seminal ADHD book for kids
Government Relations Update
In Brief
Random Sample
Judicial Notebook
Psychology’s first forays into film
Time Capsule
Questionnaire
Presidential programming
Obesity researchers receive lifetime achievement awards
Top speakers for psychology’s top meeting
Science Watch
Homing in on sickle cell disease
Psychologist Profile
Alone in the ‘hole’
Public Interest
State Leadership Conference ‘12
Perspective on Practice
Education tops council’s agenda
Meet the candidates for APA’s 2014 president
Presidential election guidelines
Division Spotlight
American Psychological Foundation
Support for sexual miniorities
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - May 2012