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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesHealth Behavior Assessment and Intervention ProceduresCPT cpt-96160-standardized-risk-questionnaire-screening-scoring
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    CPT 96160: Standardized Questionnaire for Health Risk Screening and Scoring

    Medicare pays $3 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 96160 describes administration and scoring of a standardized questionnaire used to identify a specific health risk for a patient; the provider administers the survey, analyzes responses, assigns a validated score, and documents findings as part of a screening/assessment service typically delivered in outpatient clinic, primary care, behavioral health, or other ambulatory settings where standardized risk questionnaires are used.

    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 52-year-old primary care patient presents for an annual preventive visit and completes a standardized alcohol screening questionnaire administered by the clinician to identify hazardous drinking. The provider introduces the screening, administers the validated questionnaire (for example, AUDIT-C or a comparable expert-validated instrument), scores the responses, interprets the score against established cutoffs, documents the numerical score and clinical interpretation in the medical record, and records any brief counseling or referrals made. The service is delivered face-to-face in an outpatient clinic, but may also occur in an inpatient setting, emergency department, or via telehealth when the questionnaire is administered and scored by a qualified healthcare professional. The workflow includes obtaining informed consent for screening, completing the instrument, scoring, documenting findings and plan, and, if indicated, arranging follow-up behavioral health services or referrals.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    99406Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling, intermediate, greater than 3 minutes up to 10 minutesOften provided after a positive tobacco-use screening questionnaire and may follow 96160 if related behavioral risk identified
    99407Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling, intensive, greater than 10 minutesUsed when more intensive counseling is delivered following a positive standardized screening
    96161Administration of caregiver-focused standardized questionnaire, per instrument (e.g., for pediatric developmental screening)Related instrument-based assessment for caregiver-reported screening; similar workflow for scoring and documentation
    96110Developmental screening, with scoring and documentation, per standardized instrumentCommonly paired when developmental risk is being assessed alongside other standardized screenings
    99420Administration and interpretation of health risk assessment instrument (HRA)Related risk assessment service; used in broader population health or wellness visits
    90832Psychotherapy, 30 minutes with patientMay follow a positive behavioral health screen identified via 96160 when brief therapy is initiated

    Related Modifiers

    9 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.,…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    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…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208000000X
    207Q00000X
    208100000X
    2084P0800X
    224900000X
    363LP0808X
    261QI0500X
    152W00000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    F10.20Alcohol dependence, uncomplicated
    F11.20Opioid dependence, uncomplicated
    F17.210Nicotine dependence, cigarettes, uncomplicated
    F32.0Major depressive disorder, single episode, mild
    F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
    F33.1Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate
    F34.1Dysthymic disorder
    F41.0Panic disorder [episodic paroxysmal anxiety]
    F41.1Generalized anxiety disorder
    F41.9Anxiety disorder, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 26

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

    CPT 96159: Additional 15-Min Individual Behavioral Counseling

    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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