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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesPreventive Medicine, Individual CounselingCPT cpt-99403-preventive-counseling-risk-reduction-45min
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    CPT 99403: Preventive Counseling, 45-Minute Session

    CPT code 99403 describes a standalone preventive counseling visit of approximately 45 minutes in which the provider delivers age- and risk-appropriate counseling focused on prevention and risk factor reduction; service type: preventive counseling / behavioral counseling, typical site of service: office or outpatient clinic visit.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Surgical Procedures, Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Service, Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in Adults.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 28-year-old patient presents to a primary care clinic for a separate counseling visit focused on preventive health and risk-reduction unrelated to an annual physical. The patient requests focused counseling about tobacco cessation, sexual health and contraception, nutrition, and screening recommendations based on age and family history. The clinician (family medicine physician or advanced practice provider) schedules an independent 45-minute face-to-face visit in an outpatient clinic exam room. The visit includes a review of personal and family history, assessment of current behaviors and readiness to change, delivery of structured counseling and education, development of a preventive plan (e.g., referral for smoking cessation program, immunizations, age-appropriate screening), and documentation of total counseling time. The encounter is coded separately from any preventive medicine visit and billed as 99403 for a typical 45-minute counseling session. Typical site of service is an outpatient clinic or ambulatory care center. The workflow includes check-in and vitals by staff, focused history collection, dedicated counseling by the clinician, provision of educational materials and referrals, documentation of time and topics covered, and billing with appropriate modifier(s) if indicated by payer or circumstance.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    99401Preventive medicine counseling and/or risk factor reduction intervention(s) provided to an individual; approximately 15 minutesShorter counseling visits that may precede or follow a longer 99403 session when topics require segmented visits
    99402Preventive medicine counseling and/or risk factor reduction intervention(s) provided to an individual; approximately 30 minutesIntermediate-length counseling often used when 99403 (45 minutes) is not necessary or when multiple shorter sessions are scheduled
    99404Preventive medicine counseling and/or risk factor reduction intervention(s) provided to an individual; approximately 60 minutesLonger counseling sessions that may be used instead of 99403 when extended time is required
    99406Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling visit, intermediate, greater than 3 minutes up to 10 minutesTopic-specific counseling frequently combined with 99403 for targeted tobacco cessation content when billed separately per payer rules
    99407Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling visit, intensive, greater than 10 minutesIntensive tobacco cessation counseling that may be part of the counseling plan developed during a 99403 visit
    99213Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, typically 15 minutesProblem-focused E/M visits often occur on the same day; documentation determines whether 99403 is separately billable or if an E/M code is appropriate

    Related Modifiers

    7 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…
    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…
    24Modifier 24 denotes an unrelated evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or qualified healthcare professional during a postoperative global period. Per CPT guidance,…- Use modifier 24 when you report an evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or same-specialty group during a procedure’s postoperative global period that is unrelated…
    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…
    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
    207Q00000X
    208000000X
    363L00000X
    207R00000X
    103TH0100X
    2080P0008X
    174H00000X
    207ZC0008X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: General Surgery1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Surgical ProceduresUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of ServiceUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Site of Service for Ambulatory Surgical Procedures (ASC Select)Premera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Servicesierra health and life2026-08-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines — Inpatient Surgical CareMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-08-01
    Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) - Site of Care PolicyKaiser Permanente2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-99401-PREVENTIVE-COUNSELING-15-MINUTE-SESSION

    CPT 99401: Brief Preventive Counseling, ~15 Minutes

    CPT-99402-PREVENTIVE-COUNSELING-30-MINUTE-SESSION

    CPT 99402: Preventive Counseling, 30-Minute Session

    CPT-99404-PREVENTIVE-COUNSELING-60-MINUTE-SESSION

    CPT 99404: Preventive Counseling, 60-Minute Session

    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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