Helpful insights on behavioral health billing.
Simple, practical guides written by our billing team. Click any card to read the full story.
Behavioral Health Carve-Outs: Who Actually Pays the Claim?
Behavioral health carve outs explained: how to read the insurance card, where to send claims and authorizations, and why credentialing is often separate.
42 CFR Part 2 and Billing for Substance Use Disorder Treatment
42 CFR Part 2 billing explained: which SUD records are covered, how the 2024 final rule changed consent for payment, and what it means for vendors.
Payer Audits of 90837: Why They Happen and How to Prepare
A 90837 audit can lead to downcoding or recoupment. Learn why payers review 60-minute psychotherapy, what documentation holds up and how to respond.
90837 vs 90834: Time Rules, Documentation and Audit Risk
90837 vs 90834 explained for group practices: the time thresholds, what your notes must show, why payers review 90837, and how to bill with confidence.
90846 vs 90847: Billing Family Psychotherapy
90847 billing made clear: 90846 vs 90847, who the billed patient is, time rules, payer coverage limits and documentation for family psychotherapy.
Cleaning Up AR Over 90 Days: A Step-by-Step Playbook
A step-by-step playbook for cleaning up AR over 90 days: triage by deadline and balance, appeal or write off, and prevent it from recurring.
A Self-Audit Checklist for Behavioral Health Billing
A practical billing audit checklist for therapy and psychiatry groups: how to sample claims, test documentation, time, modifiers and credentialing.
90785 Interactive Complexity: When It Applies and When It Doesn't
Interactive complexity 90785 explained: the four qualifying factors, which codes it attaches to, where it cannot be billed and how to avoid audit risk.
CPT 90791 Billing Guide: Diagnostic Evaluations Done Right
90791 billing for group practices: 90791 vs 90792, frequency limits, same-day rules, documentation and the denials that catch intake evaluations.
Can You Bill Insurance for Pre-Licensed Therapists and Associates?
Billing for associate therapists depends on the payer and state. Learn the Medicare incident-to limits, supervision billing risks and how to verify rules.
CAQH ProView for Therapists: Setup, Attestation and Common Mistakes
CAQH for therapists made simple: how to set up the profile, attest every 120 days, authorize payers and avoid lapses that quietly stall claims.
How to Choose Insurance Panels for a Group Therapy Practice
Deciding which insurance panels to join? Score payers on local demand, reimbursement, admin burden and panel status, then negotiate with your own data.
CO-16 Denial: Fixing Missing or Incomplete Claim Information
CO-16 denial code means claim information is missing or invalid. Learn to read the remark code, fix common behavioral health causes and prevent repeats.
CO-22 Coordination of Benefits Denials in Mental Health Practices
A CO-22 denial means another plan may be primary. Learn the birthday rule, the intake questions that prevent COB denials and the right resubmission order.
CO-50 Medical Necessity Denials for Psychotherapy
Medical necessity for psychotherapy depends on the treatment plan, measurable goals and progress notes. Learn why CO-50 denials happen and how to appeal.
CO-197 Denials in Therapy Practices: Authorization Missing
CO-197 denial means authorization was missing. Learn why therapy practices get it, how to fix denied claims and how to stop it at the front desk.
Collaborative Care Model Billing: 99492, 99493, 99494
Collaborative care billing explained: who bills 99492, 99493 and 99494, monthly time rules, the consultant role and what it means for psychiatry groups.
Leaving Headway or Alma: A Playbook for Going In-Network on Your Own
Thinking about leaving Headway or Alma? Use an honest math framework, plan the credentialing timeline and cash-flow gap, and transition patients carefully.[cite: 18]
Crisis Psychotherapy Codes 90839 and 90840 Explained
90839 billing explained: crisis time thresholds, when to add 90840, same-day limits, telehealth and the documentation that supports a crisis claim.[cite: 19]
Days in AR for Mental Health Practices: How to Calculate and Improve It
How to calculate days in AR for a mental health practice, what a healthy benchmark looks like, and the specific steps that bring the number down.[cite: 20]
Good Faith Estimates for Group Therapy Practices: A No Surprises Act Workflow
Good faith estimate rules for therapists: who gets one, timing, contents and the $400 dispute threshold, plus a simple workflow for group practices.[cite: 21]
Group NPI vs Individual NPI: Setting Up a Behavioral Health Group Practice
Group NPI vs individual NPI explained for behavioral health groups: Type 1 vs Type 2, tax ID, billing vs rendering provider and common claim errors.[cite: 22]
How to Bill Group Psychotherapy (90853)
90853 billing for group practices: per-patient claims, group size expectations, documentation for each member, 90785 and pairing groups with E/M visits.[cite: 23]
HIPAA and BAAs With Offshore Billing Vendors: A Practice Owner's Checklist
HIPAA offshore medical billing checklist for practice owners: required BAA terms, subcontractor BAAs, access controls, breach timelines and audit rights.[cite: 24]
ICD-10 Coding for Mental Health: Common Errors That Cause Denials
Mental health ICD-10 codes that are unspecified, truncated or out of date trigger denials. Learn the common errors and a simple pre-submission check.[cite: 25]
In-House vs Outsourced Billing for a Group Practice: An Honest Cost Comparison
In-house vs outsourced medical billing for therapy and psychiatry groups: salary, benefits, software, coverage gaps and a worked cost comparison.[cite: 26]
The January Deductible Reset: Cash-Flow Planning for Mental Health Practices
Prepare your therapy practice for the January deductible reset with eligibility re-verification, patient scripts and a simple Q1 cash-flow forecast.[cite: 27]
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