CPT® 2018: Get The Scoop On These New BHI and Behavioral Healthcare Management Codes

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Note:  The following article synopsis was NOT provided by AAPC. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.

Article Overview

This article covers the 2018 CPT changes affecting behavioral health integration and related care management services. It is aimed at coders, billing staff, and clinicians who need to understand the scope of the new code family, how it relates to predecessor HCPCS temporary codes, and what kinds of documentation and care components are discussed for each service category. The article also notes the diagnostic context referenced for these services and highlights the role of CPT guidance and carrier policies.

Why This Topic Matters

These changes affect how practices document and report behavioral health-related evaluation and management services, especially during the transition from temporary HCPCS options to permanent CPT codes. Understanding the article helps readers identify which service categories are addressed and what administrative or documentation themes are emphasized.

Article Sections

  1. Background on the 2018 CPT changes

    Provides context for the new behavioral health-related CPT additions and the transition away from temporary HCPCS codes. It introduces the service categories that are discussed in the rest of the article.

  2. Requirements for 99492

    Reviews the documentation and care-management elements discussed for the initial collaborative care management service. The section focuses on the broad components needed to support reporting.

  3. Requirements for 99493

    Covers the documentation and follow-up components associated with the subsequent collaborative care management service. It outlines the general activity types addressed for ongoing monthly reporting.

  4. Add-on code +99494

    Explains the article’s discussion of the add-on collaborative care management code and its place alongside the primary service. The section addresses how the article frames this code within the service family.

  5. Cognitive-assessment service components

    Summarizes the broad assessment, planning, and documentation topics tied to the cognitive evaluation service. It includes the major clinical and care-planning elements referenced by the article.

  6. Requirements for 99484

    Describes the behavioral health care management topics discussed for the care management-focused BHI service. The section highlights the article’s general emphasis on monitoring, planning, coordination, and continuity of care.

What You Will Learn

  • How the 2018 CPT behavioral health-related additions are organized by service type.
  • What broad documentation themes are associated with the collaborative care management codes.
  • What categories of assessment and care planning are discussed for cognitive evaluation services.
  • How the article frames care management-focused behavioral health integration services.
  • Why diagnosis-related guidance and payer policy considerations are mentioned in connection with these services.

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Billing staff
  • Physicians and other qualified health care professionals
  • Clinical staff involved in behavioral health documentation
  • Practice managers

Codes Discussed


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