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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesHealth Behavior Assessment and Intervention ProceduresCPT cpt-96159-individual-health-management-counseling-15min
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    CPT 96159: Additional 15-Min Individual Behavioral Counseling

    Medicare pays $26 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 96159 describes one additional 15‑minute unit of individual counseling provided by a qualified mental health professional, typically a psychologist, focused on cognitive, emotional, social, and cultural factors that affect management of a patient’s physical health problems; service type: individual behavioral/counseling intervention; typical site of service: face-to-face outpatient or office-based patient encounter.

    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 typical patient is an adult with a chronic medical condition (for example, diabetes, chronic pain, heart failure) who is experiencing difficulty managing disease-related behaviors, mood, or social barriers that interfere with medical treatment. The patient is referred by a primary care physician or specialist for one–to–one behavioral health intervention with a psychologist or licensed clinical social worker trained in health psychology. The provider meets face-to-face with the patient for extended counseling focused on cognitive, emotional, social, and cultural factors affecting physical health management. Sessions are documented in 15‑minute increments; 96159 is billed for each additional 15 minutes beyond the base health behavior intervention time. Typical workflow: referral and problem list review; focused assessment of health beliefs, adherence, mood, and social determinants; development of tailored coping and self‑management strategies; in‑session skills training and goal setting; documentation of time, interventions, patient response, and medical collaboration notes; charge entry with appropriate ICD‑10 diagnosis and any applicable modifier(s). Typical site of service is an outpatient behavioral health clinic or medical office where integrated behavioral health services are delivered.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    96158Health behavior intervention, individual, face-to-face; initial 30 minutes, typically used for extended behavioral interventionsOften billed as the primary time-based code; 96159 is used for each additional 15 minutes beyond the primary service.
    90832Psychotherapy, 30 minutes with patientMay be used when psychotherapy addressing psychiatric disorders is provided instead of health behavior intervention; different clinical focus.
    90834Psychotherapy, 45 minutes with patientMay be used for longer psychotherapy sessions addressing mental health comorbidities that impact medical management.
    99406Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling, intermediate, greater than 3 minutes up to 10 minutesShort, focused counseling for specific health behaviors that may be provided in the same care episode.
    99407Smoking and tobacco cessation counseling, intensive, greater than 10 minutesUsed for more intensive tobacco cessation counseling that complements broader health behavior interventions.
    96127Brief emotional/behavioral assessment (e.g., inventory, short form)Used for brief standardized behavioral screenings that may precede or supplement a 96159 session.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    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…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    103K00000X
    207RH0000X
    225500000X
    342000000X
    261QR0207X
    332H00000X
    246Y00000X
    156FC0800X

    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-96158-BEHAVIORAL-HEALTH-COUNSELING-HEALTH-MANAGEMENT-30-MIN

    CPT 96158: Psychological Counseling for Health Management

    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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