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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesHealth Behavior Assessment and Intervention ProceduresCPT cpt-96161-caregiver-risk-screening-questionnaire-assessment
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    CPT 96161: Caregiver Risk Questionnaire Assessment

    Medicare pays $3 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 96161 describes administration and scoring of a standardized caregiver risk questionnaire: the provider delivers a validated instrument to identify a specific health risk to a patient’s caregiver, analyzes responses, assigns a score, and documents findings; this is a screening and assessment service typically delivered in ambulatory or clinic settings or during home health visits when a standardized tool is 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 typical patient scenario involves a family caregiver identified during a primary care or geriatrics visit for an older adult with dementia or progressive chronic illness. The clinician (physician, nurse practitioner, or clinical psychologist) administers a standardized caregiver risk questionnaire to screen for caregiver burden, depression, or risk of neglect/abuse. The workflow: intake staff or clinician provides the validated instrument to the caregiver (paper, tablet, or interview), the provider scores the questionnaire using the established scoring algorithm, documents the numeric score and interpretation in the medical record, and records any counseling, referrals (social work, respite services, behavioral health), or safety planning. Results are reviewed with the caregiver and incorporated into the patient’s care plan; billing is submitted under 96161 for each standardized caregiver risk questionnaire completed and documented during the visit. Typical site of service is outpatient clinic (primary care, geriatric clinic), behavioral health clinic, home health visit, or long-term care facility assessment when caregiver screening is part of clinical evaluation.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    96127Brief emotional/behavioral assessment (e.g., depression inventory), with scoring and documentation, per standardized instrumentOften used for brief caregiver depression screening when a shorter instrument is appropriate; may be billed instead of or in addition to 96161 depending on instrument and payer rules.
    99401Preventive medicine counseling and/or risk factor reduction intervention(s) provided to an individual (approximately 15 minutes)Used when the provider delivers counseling or anticipatory guidance to the caregiver based on the questionnaire results during the visit.
    99406Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling visit, intermediate, greater than 3 minutes up to 10 minutesExample of a single-issue counseling code that may be used when the questionnaire identifies caregiver tobacco-related risk and focused counseling is provided.
    99304Nursing facility subsequent care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patientUsed when caregiver assessment is part of ongoing care in a long-term care setting and facility E/M services are provided alongside 96161.
    G0506Comprehensive assessment of and care planning for patients requiring chronic care management services, face-to-face visitUsed when caregiver risk assessment contributes to care planning in chronic care management programs and documentation supports billing of a comprehensive care planning visit.

    Related Modifiers

    8 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…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    163WX0106X
    207UN0903X
    3336C0002X
    3336S0011X
    332U00000X
    363LG0600X
    2083S0010X
    207WX0200X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E11.9Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
    F01.50Vascular dementia, unspecified severity, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety
    F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
    F33.9Major depressive disorder, recurrent, unspecified
    F41.1Generalized anxiety disorder
    F41.9Anxiety disorder, unspecified
    F43.10Post-traumatic stress disorder, unspecified
    F43.21Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
    G30.9Alzheimer's disease, unspecified
    I10Essential (primary) hypertension

    Showing 1–10 of 27

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

    CPT 96160: Standardized Questionnaire for Health Risk Screening and Scoring

    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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