Summary & Overview

CPT 96146: Electronic Single-Test Psychological/Neuropsychological Assessment

CPT code 96146 represents a single, standardized psychological or neuropsychological test administered via an electronic platform that produces automated scoring at completion. This code captures a specific modality of assessment increasingly used for cognitive and behavioral screening and monitoring. Nationally, electronic, self-administered testing is relevant for outpatient behavioral health, neurology, geriatrics, and primary care settings seeking scalable, standardized assessment tools.

Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for electronic single-test assessments, typical sites of service, common payer coverage patterns, and billing considerations. The publication summarizes available benchmarks where present, highlights policy or coding guidance updates that affect use of the code, and outlines practical documentation elements associated with CPT code 96146.

This summary is intended for national audiences, including clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts, to clarify the code's clinical scope and administrative context. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable in detailed sections.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare96146CPTpsychological-testingneuropsychological-assessmentelectronic-assessmentbehavioral-healthoutpatientautomated-scoring

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 96146 describes administration of a single, standardized psychological or neuropsychological test delivered via an electronic platform (for example, computer) that automatically scores the test on completion. The service is a single-test, automated cognitive or behavioral assessment provided to a patient.

Service type: Psychological or neuropsychological testing performed using an electronic platform with automated scoring
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinics, behavioral health centers, hospitals with outpatient testing services, telehealth-capable facilities where computer-administered testing is supported

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 38-year-old patient presents to an outpatient behavioral health clinic with complaints of persistent attention difficulties and memory concerns following a mild traumatic brain injury three months prior. The treating psychologist orders a single standardized computerized cognitive screening test to quantify attention, processing speed, and memory functioning. The patient completes the test on a clinic computer kiosk or a tablet in a private exam room; the electronic platform automatically scores the measure upon completion. The clinician reviews the automated score report immediately, documents results in the electronic health record, and uses the findings to determine need for further neuropsychological testing, brief cognitive intervention, or referral. Typical workflow includes registration, informed consent for testing, clinician or trained technician starting the 96146 electronic test, patient completion without clinician scoring, and clinician interpretation of the scored report during the same visit or at a subsequent follow-up.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	When billing only the clinician interpretation/evaluation portion separate from facility or technical services.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`103K00000X`	Clinical Neuropsychologist	Specialist who interprets computerized neurocognitive testing and integrates results into diagnostic formulation.
`2084P0800X`	Clinical Psychologist	Common provider administering and interpreting standardized psychological tests delivered electronically.
`363L00000X`	Nurse Practitioner - Behavioral Health	May administer or supervise electronic testing within scope of practice and agency policy.
`208D00000X`	Psychiatrist	Orders and interprets cognitive screening to inform psychiatric differential diagnosis and treatment planning.
`367A00000X`	Physician Assistant	May administer or coordinate testing under physician supervision per payer and state rules.

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`F07.81`	Postconcussional syndrome	Common indication for computerized cognitive screening after traumatic brain injury to assess attention and memory deficits.
`F41.9`	Anxiety disorder, unspecified	Anxiety can affect cognitive performance; screening helps differentiate primary cognitive disorder from anxiety-related impairment.
`F32.9`	Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified	Depression commonly presents with concentration and memory complaints; computerized testing assists diagnostic clarity.
`G31.84`	Mild cognitive impairment, so stated	A primary clinical indication for brief computerized cognitive assessment to track cognitive change over time.
`R45.0`	Nervousness and agitation	Symptom codes used when behavioral symptoms accompany cognitive complaints; testing documents cognitive status.
`R41.3`	Other amnesia	Memory complaints prompting objective computerized testing to characterize degree and pattern of impairment.
`Z13.89`	Encounter for screening for other disorder	Used when testing is performed as part of screening for cognitive impairment in at-risk populations.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`96130`	Psychological testing evaluation services by physician or qualified healthcare professional, first hour	Used when a full, face-to-face test administration with interpretation and report is performed beyond a single automated test; may follow `96146` if further testing is required.
`96132`	Neuropsychological testing evaluation services by physician or qualified healthcare professional, first hour	Applied when comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and clinical interpretation are performed after initial computerized screening indicates deficits.
`96136`	Psychological or neuropsychological test administration and scoring, two or more tests, first 30 minutes	Used when clinician-administered battery (non-automated) is performed in addition to or instead of the single automated test billed with `96146`.
`96150`	Health and behavior assessment, initial, face-to-face; 30 minutes	Can be billed in conjunction when psychosocial factors affecting medical condition are assessed during the same encounter; check payer bundling rules.
`99406`	Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling visit; intermediate, greater than 3 minutes up to 10 minutes	Example of evaluation/management or counseling code that might occur in the same visit; confirm modifiers for distinct services.
`G0438`	Annual wellness visit, initial	Preventive workflows: `96146` may be part of cognitive assessment within an annual wellness visit for Medicare beneficiaries; apply appropriate modifier and billing rules.

OpenPayer