Pediatric Coding Alert
Behavior and Health Assessment
Question: Should pediatricians use the new behavior and health assessment codes?
Illinois Subscriber
Answer: Pediatricians or any other physicians should not use these codes. The purpose of CPT 96150 -96151 (Health and behavior assessment [e.g., health-focused clinical interview, behavioral observations, psychophysiological monitoring, health-oriented questionnaires]), each 15 minutes face-to-face with the patient) and 96152-96155 (Health and behavior intervention, each 15 minutes, face-to-face) is to allow social workers, psychologists and other nonphysician counselors to report services provided to patients who also suffer from a medical illness. The codes are not for treating mental-health problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Pediatric Coding Alert
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