CPT Knowledge Base - Oct 26, 2017
May a clinical psychologist report code 96101 for time spent preparing a psychological report, if the psychologist did not personally administer a psychodiagnostic assessment test to a patient? In this instance, the test was mailed to the patient, completed by the patient in his or her home, and mailed back to the psychologist. The psychologist does not bill any time for administering the test (because it was mailed to the patient), but wants to bill for time spent reviewing test results and integrating other clinical data, reviewing the patients medical chart, preparing questions to ask the patient during his evaluation of the patient, and writing the report. Is it appropriate to report this service with code 96101? ...
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Article Overview
This article addresses a coding question about psychological testing services performed by a clinical psychologist and discusses how CPT time guidance applies when test administration, interpretation, chart review, and report preparation are involved. It is useful for psychologists, billing staff, and coding professionals who need to understand the scope of billable service time and the broader documentation considerations surrounding this type of testing service.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate reporting of psychological testing time affects billing compliance and proper documentation of work that extends beyond direct test administration. The article helps readers understand whether preparatory and interpretive activities associated with the service belong in the same reporting framework.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames psychological testing services under CPT time guidance
- What categories of clinician work are discussed in connection with psychological testing reporting
- Why timing and documentation matter for this type of service
- How the article approaches a question about report preparation and related testing activities
Who Should Read This
- Clinical psychologists
- Psychologists
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Compliance professionals
Codes Discussed
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