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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesHealth Behavior Assessment and Intervention ProceduresCPT cpt-96158-behavioral-health-counseling-health-management-30-min
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    CPT 96158: Psychological Counseling for Health Management

    Medicare pays $76 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 96158 describes a one–to–one psychological counseling visit focused on cognitive, emotional, social, and cultural factors that affect management of a patient’s physical health problems; the code represents the first 30 minutes of a face-to-face counseling session and is typically delivered in an outpatient behavioral health or clinic setting as a psychotherapy/health behavior intervention.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Pediatric Neurodevelopmental and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Screening Corporate Medical Policy, Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for New Mexico Only), Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for North Carolina Only).

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 54-year-old patient with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus presents for a scheduled 30-minute, one-to-one counseling session with a licensed psychologist to address behavioral and cognitive barriers to diabetes self-management. The patient reports difficulty adhering to medication timing, diet, and activity recommendations due to depressive symptoms and health beliefs that insulin indicates personal failure. The session is face-to-face in an outpatient behavioral health clinic located within a multispecialty physician practice. The psychologist conducts a focused assessment of cognitive, emotional, social, and cultural factors affecting the patient’s physical health, provides tailored strategies (goal-setting, problem-solving, motivational interviewing), and documents the time spent. The workflow includes referral from the primary care clinician, pre-visit review of medical history and glycated hemoglobin (A1c) trends, the 30-minute counseling encounter using 96158 as the primary code for the first 30 minutes, documentation of stated goals and follow-up plan, and communication of recommendations back to the referring provider.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    96127Brief emotional/behavioral assessment (e.g., depression inventory), with scoring and documentation, per standardized instrument, 15 minutesMay be used before or during treatment episodes to screen or monitor symptom severity alongside 96158
    90832Psychotherapy, 30 minutes with patient when performed with medical evaluation and management servicesAlternative psychotherapy code for 30-minute therapy sessions; used when psychotherapy rather than health behavior counseling is billed
    99406Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling, intermediate, greater than 3 minutes up to 10 minutesCan be used for brief counseling on health behaviors; 96158 applies when addressing cognitive/behavioral factors in chronic disease management
    99407Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling, intensive, greater than 10 minutesFor longer tobacco cessation counseling that may complement the cognitive management strategies in 96158
    G0444Annual depression screening, 15 minutesMay precede or accompany 96158 to identify comorbid depression contributing to poor chronic disease control
    96161Neuropsychological testing/assessment, per hour, face-to-face with the patient; first hourUsed when more extensive cognitive assessment is needed beyond counseling strategies in 96158.

    Related Modifiers

    6 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    95Modifier 95 indicates that a service was provided via synchronous, real‑time audio‑video telehealth rather than in‑person. Per CMS, AAPC and professional associations, append modifier 95 to claim…- Use modifier 95 to indicate a service was furnished via synchronous, real‑time audiovisual telehealth (a live audio‑video conference between patient and provider) rather than in‑person. - Pair…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    103K00000X
    2084P0800X
    101Y00000X
    2279H0200X
    207RS0012X
    261QM1000X
    1223P0106X
    246QL0901X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Pediatrics/Neonatology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Pediatric Neurodevelopmental and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Screening Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for New Mexico Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for North Carolina Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for Pennsylvania Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for Kentucky Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Clinical Policy: NICU Apnea Bradycardia GuidelinesAmbetter Nevada2026-10-01
    DRG Newborn Inpatient Stays - FacilityBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maine2026-10-01
    Pediatric Preventive ScreeningOscar Health2026-10-01
    Infant Nutritional FormulaCigna2026-09-15
    Pediatric Preventive ScreeningBlue Cross Blue Shield - New Mexico2026-09-04

    Related Codes

    CPT-96156-HEALTH-BEHAVIOR-ASSESSMENT

    CPT 96156: Health Behavior Assessment, General Health Factors

    CPT-96159-INDIVIDUAL-HEALTH-MANAGEMENT-COUNSELING-15MIN

    CPT 96159: Additional 15-Min Individual Behavioral Counseling

    CPT-96160-STANDARDIZED-RISK-QUESTIONNAIRE-SCREENING-SCORING

    CPT 96160: Standardized Questionnaire for Health Risk Screening and Scoring

    CPT-96161-CAREGIVER-RISK-SCREENING-QUESTIONNAIRE-ASSESSMENT

    CPT 96161: Caregiver Risk Questionnaire Assessment

    CPT-96164-GROUP-BEHAVIORAL-HEALTH-COUNSELING-30-MIN

    CPT 96164: Group Counseling for Cognitive/Emotional Management, 30 min

    CPT-96165-GROUP-COUNSELING-COGNITIVE-EMOTIONAL-HEALTH-MANAGEMENT

    CPT 96165: Group Counseling for Health Behavior, Additional 15 Min

    CPT-96167-FAMILY-INTERVIEW-COUNSELING-INITIAL-30-MINUTES

    CPT 96167: Family Interview and Counseling, Initial 30 Minutes

    CPT-96168-FAMILY-BEHAVIORAL-HEALTH-FAMILY-COUNSELING-15MIN

    CPT 96168: Family Interview and Counseling, 15-Minute Increment

    CPT-96170-FAMILY-BEHAVIORAL-HEALTH-INTERVIEW-COUNSELING-INITIAL-30-MINUTES

    CPT 96170: Family Psychotherapy Without Patient, Initial 30 Minutes

    CPT-96171-FAMILY-INTERVENTION-WITHOUT-PATIENT

    CPT 96171: Family Counseling, Patient Not Present, per 15 Minutes

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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