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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesHealth Behavior Assessment and Intervention ProceduresCPT cpt-96171-family-intervention-without-patient
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    CPT 96171: Family Counseling, Patient Not Present, per 15 Minutes

    CPT code 96171 describes a behavioral health service in which a clinician (often a psychologist) provides family counseling and education to change family dynamics and behaviors that negatively affect the patient’s physical health and coping; this code represents each additional 15 minutes of face-to-face counseling with the patient’s family without the patient present, typically delivered in an outpatient clinic, behavioral health office, or community setting as a family-focused psychosocial 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 typical patient scenario involves a pediatric or adult patient with a chronic medical condition (for example, asthma, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, or cancer) in which family behaviors, communication patterns, or caregiving dynamics are adversely affecting the patient’s adherence, coping, or physical health. The patient’s primary medical team (pediatrician, primary care physician, or specialty clinic) refers the family to a licensed psychologist or behavioral health specialist for a family-only session when the patient is not present. The psychologist meets face-to-face with one or more family members to interview, assess family interactions, and provide counseling on behavior change, problem-solving, medication adherence support, and stress management. Billing uses 96171 for each additional 15 minutes of face-to-face family-only psychotherapy/counseling provided without the patient present; initial family sessions may use the base family psychotherapy code and 96171 is appended for each additional 15-minute increment beyond the initial time unit. Documentation includes: session start/end times, participants present, clinical topics addressed, interventions provided, clinician credentials, written consent when required, and how family interventions impact the patient’s treatment plan. Typical sites of service include outpatient behavioral health clinics, hospital outpatient departments, pediatric clinics, and specialty outpatient clinics where psychologists provide consultative family counseling separate from the patient’s presence. Typical workflow: referral from medical team → scheduling family-only visit → insurance verification and determination of medical necessity → face-to-face family interview/counseling session documented in 15-minute time increments → coding and billing using the appropriate base CPT family codes and additional units of 96171 as indicated.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    90847Family psychotherapy (conjoint psychotherapy) (with patient present), 50 minutesUsed when family therapy includes the patient present; contrasts with 96171 which is for family-only without the patient.
    90846Family psychotherapy (without the patient present), 50 minutesPrimary base family psychotherapy code for a standard 50-minute family-only session; 96171 represents additional 15-minute increments beyond the base time when billed by psychologists.
    96150Health and behavior assessment, initial, face-to-face; 45 minutesUsed for initial assessment of biopsychosocial factors affecting medical condition; may precede family-only counseling interventions.
    96152Health and behavior intervention, individual, 30 minutesIndividual-focused behavioral interventions for health behavior change that may be complemented by family-only sessions using 96171.
    99401Preventive medicine counseling and/or risk factor reduction intervention, individual; 15 minutes

    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…
    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…
    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…
    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
    101Y00000X
    2084P0800X
    106H00000X
    2472V0600X
    2865C1500X
    207RB0002X
    2084P0005X

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

    CPT 96170: Family Psychotherapy Without Patient, Initial 30 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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    Short preventive counseling codes that may be used in medical settings alongside behavioral health family counseling depending on payor policies.
    G0444Annual depression screening, 15 minutesScreening test that may trigger referral to family counseling when results indicate significant psychosocial contributors to medical care.