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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesHealth Behavior Assessment and Intervention ProceduresCPT cpt-96170-family-behavioral-health-interview-counseling-initial-30-minutes
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    CPT 96170: Family Psychotherapy Without Patient, Initial 30 Minutes

    CPT code 96170 describes a face-to-face family psychotherapy session without the patient present, typically conducted by a psychologist to interview the patient’s family and counsel them on strategies to change family dynamics and behaviors that adversely affect the patient’s physical health and coping; this service represents the initial 30 minutes of family-only counseling and is commonly delivered in outpatient behavioral health or clinic settings as a structured psychotherapy session focused on family systems and behavior change.

    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 child with poorly controlled asthma whose exacerbations are linked to family smoking and inconsistent medication routines. The family is scheduled for a face-to-face session with a licensed psychologist to address household behaviors that worsen the child’s physical health and interfere with medical coping. The psychologist obtains informed consent, interviews the parent(s) and caregivers for approximately 30 minutes without the patient present, documents observed family interaction patterns, discusses strategies (smoke-free home rules, medication adherence routines, communication skills), and documents the time spent, participants, and specific counseling content. The clinical workflow typically includes referral from the pediatrician, scheduling a separate family-only visit, pre-visit chart review of medical and social history, the 30-minute family interview/counseling session coded with 96170, documentation of goals and follow-up recommendations, and communication of relevant findings to the primary medical team via progress note or care coordination message to support the patient’s treatment plan. Insurance verification and appropriate modifier use occur at billing to reflect professional component, telehealth status, or other payor-specific situations where applicable.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    90847Family psychotherapy (conjoint psychotherapy) (with patient present), 50 minutesUsed when the patient is present; complements 96170 which is family-only without the patient.
    96136Psychological or neuropsychological test administration and scoring by technician, first 30 minutesMay be performed as part of broader behavioral assessment efforts alongside family counseling.
    96138Psychological or neuropsychological test administration and scoring by a psychologist, each additional 30 minutesRelates when in-depth assessment and interpretation are performed in the same episode of care.
    90832Psychotherapy, 30 minutes with patient when performedTherapy provided directly to the patient; often billed in the same care plan but separately from 96170.
    99401Preventive medicine counseling, individual; 15 minutesPreventive counseling to caregivers may occur in primary care settings; 96170 is specialized family counseling by a psychologist.

    Related Modifiers

    7 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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
    364S00000X
    101Y00000X
    364SE1400X
    171400000X
    246W00000X
    286500000X
    261QH0700X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    29 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E66.9Obesity, unspecified
    F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
    F33.1Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate
    F34.1Dysthymic disorder
    F41.1Generalized anxiety disorder
    F41.9Anxiety disorder, unspecified
    F43.10Post-traumatic stress disorder, unspecified
    F43.20Adjustment disorder, unspecified
    F43.21Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
    F50.9Eating disorder, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 29

    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-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-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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