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CPT 96132: Neuropsychological Test Administration, Up to 1 Hour
CPT code 96132 captures up to one hour of neuropsychological test administration, scoring, interpretation and report preparation by a physician or other qualified health care professional, including discussion of results with the patient and family. This code is used nationally for extended, clinician-delivered neuropsychological assessment that supports diagnosis, treatment planning, and care coordination for cognitive, developmental, and neurobehavioral conditions. Its use matters for clinical documentation, proper billing of time-based assessment services, and alignment with payer policies for cognitive and neuropsychological evaluation.
Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical service represented by the code, how the code relates to time-based neuropsychological assessment workflows, and the typical sites where the service is performed. The publication also outlines relevant payer coverage considerations, common associated modifiers, and connections to related administration codes for shorter or technician-delivered testing. This summary equips clinicians, billers, and policy stakeholders with the essential context needed to understand documentation requirements and coding alternatives for extended neuropsychological testing services.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 96132 describes neuropsychological test administration and scoring by a physician or other qualified health care professional for up to one hour. The service includes face-to-face administration of neuropsychological tests, interpretation of results, preparation of the written report, and discussion of findings with the patient and family members or caregivers.
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Service type: Neuropsychological testing, administration, scoring, interpretation, and reporting
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Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic or office setting where a qualified clinician conducts extended neuropsychological assessment sessions
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
National averages place BUCA’s mean commercial rate at $270.40, notably higher than Medicare’s mean of $125.90; BUCA exceeds Medicare by $144.50, reflecting a substantial commercial-to-Medicare spread for CPT 96132. Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealth Group also sit above Medicare on mean rates ($346.30 and $196.10 respectively), while Aetna ($134.80) and Cigna ($176.80) are closer to Medicare’s average.
Dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75–P25) is widest for Blue Cross Blue Shield at $80.40 (P75 $386.10 minus P25 $305.70), indicating greater variability in allowed amounts, followed by UnitedHealth Group at $114.90 (P75 $243.80 minus P25 $129.90) and Cigna at $81.30 (P75 $209.20 minus P25 $127.90). Aetna has the tightest IQR at $43.40 (P75 $147.70 minus P25 $103.40), suggesting more consistency around its middle distribution.