Time-Based Code Documentation
Therapy codes like 90834 and 90837 hinge on session duration. If documentation does not clearly support the billed time, payers deny or downcode the claim after audit.
Mental Health Billing Experts
Mental Health Medical Billing Services
Billing support designed for mental health practices handling therapy sessions, psychiatric evaluations, and complex payer requirements.
350+
MH Practices Served
97.2%
Clean Claim Rate
$2.5M
Revenue Recovered
18hr
Claim Submission
Overview
Why Mental Health Billing Requires Specialized Support
Mental health billing carries a unique set of obstacles that general billing teams rarely understand. Time-based therapy codes demand precise documentation. Payer networks split behavioral and medical benefits into separate systems. And authorization requirements shift from plan to plan without warning.
We work with mental health practices to build billing processes that protect revenue without adding clinical burden. From code selection to denial appeals, our team handles every step so therapists and psychiatrists can focus on patient care.
Challenges
Common Mental Health billing Challenges We Solve
Every Mental Health billing team deals with payer delays, coding nuance, and collection leakage. We tighten those weak points before they turn into write-offs.
Split Benefit Structures
Mental health benefits are frequently managed by a separate behavioral health administrator, even within commercial plans. Claims routed to the medical side get rejected automatically.
Credentialing Delays
Mental health providers face longer credentialing timelines than most specialties. Until credentialing is complete, claims cannot be submitted, and revenue stalls.
Stigma-Related Coding Sensitivity
Diagnosis codes for mental health carry social weight. Providers must balance clinical accuracy with patient concerns about diagnostic labels appearing on insurance records.
Services
Complete Mental Health billing Services
Support spans the full revenue cycle, from front-end verification to denial recovery and reporting.
Therapy session coding (individual, group, family, crisis)
Psychiatric evaluation and medication management billing
Payer benefit verification and carve-out identification
Authorization tracking with automated renewal alerts
Credentialing and network enrollment for new providers
Denial appeals with clinical documentation support
Coverage
Serving Mental Health billing Teams Nationwide
We support independent practices, multisite groups, and growing provider organizations with flexible workflows.
Independent physician groups
Multi-location practices
Private equity backed platforms
Hospital-owned outpatient groups
Guide
The Complete Guide to Mental Health billing
Mental health billing carries a unique set of obstacles that general billing teams rarely understand. Time-based therapy codes demand precise documentation. Payer networks split behavioral and medical benefits into separate systems. And authorization requirements shift from plan to plan without warning.
We work with mental health practices to build billing processes that protect revenue without adding clinical burden. From code selection to denial appeals, our team handles every step so therapists and psychiatrists can focus on patient care.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health billing
Answers to the questions practice owners and managers ask most often before switching billing partners.
What is the difference between 90834 and 90837?
CPT 90834 covers a 38 to 52-minute therapy session, while 90837 covers sessions of 53 minutes or longer. The distinction matters because payers audit time-based codes closely and will downcode 90837 to 90834 if documentation does not support the longer duration.
How do mental health billing rates compare across payers?
Reimbursement varies significantly. Medicare typically pays $80 to $110 for a 90837 session, while commercial payers range from $90 to $180 depending on the network contract and geographic region.
Can you bill for telehealth mental health sessions?
Yes. Telehealth mental health billing requires the correct place of service code (02 or 10 depending on the payer), appropriate modifiers (95 or GT), and documentation confirming the patient consented to the telehealth visit.
What happens when a mental health authorization expires mid-treatment?
We monitor authorization windows and initiate renewal requests before expiration. If a gap occurs, we work with the payer to obtain retroactive authorization when clinically justified, using supporting documentation from the treating provider.
Do you handle billing for psychiatric nurse practitioners?
Yes. Psychiatric NPs bill under their own NPI in most states, using the same CPT codes as psychiatrists. Some payers apply different fee schedules for NPs, which we account for during claim submission.
How do you reduce no-show revenue loss for mental health practices?
While we do not manage scheduling, we ensure that cancelled and no-show appointments are flagged so practices can enforce their financial policies. We also optimize the billing cycle so that completed sessions are submitted within 24 hours.
Comparison
How We Compare for Mental Health billing
The difference is operational discipline. We focus on clean submissions, fast follow-up, and transparency.
Criteria
My Medical Bill Solution
Typical Provider
Specialty-specific billing workflows
Included
Often generic
Dedicated account ownership
Yes
Shared queue
Denial root-cause reporting
Weekly
Ad hoc
Claim submission speed
Within 24 hours
Varies
Communication cadence
Planned check-ins
Reactive only
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