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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAdministrative, Miscellaneous and InvestigationalHCPCS hcpcs-a9291-prescription-digital-cognitive-behavioral-therapy
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    HCPCS A9291: Prescription Digital Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy

    HCPCS Level II code A9291 describes a prescription digital cognitive and/or behavioral therapy that is FDA-cleared, billed per course of treatment; the service is a prescription-based digital therapeutic for cognitive or behavioral conditions and is typically delivered as a remote or ambulatory digital health intervention accessed by the patient outside of a traditional facility setting.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Interferential Stimulation Devices (for home use), Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Tumor Treating Fields (Alternating Electric Field Therapy) Medical Guideline, Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Bone Growth Stimulators Medical Guideline.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 34-year-old patient with a primary care or behavioral health referral presents with moderate major depressive disorder and limited access to in-person psychotherapy. The clinician prescribes an FDA-cleared prescription digital cognitive and/or behavioral therapy course delivered via a regulated software application. The patient completes an initial intake questionnaire and standardized symptom measures (for example, PHQ-9 or GAD-7) within the app. The prescribing clinician documents medical necessity, reviews baseline scores, and initiates the digital therapeutic by issuing a prescription or authorization code tied to the patient’s identity.

    The clinical workflow includes: initial evaluation and diagnosis by a licensed clinician; documentation of informed consent and prescription in the medical record; submission of the claim using A9291 for the per-course digital cognitive/behavioral therapy; tracking of patient engagement and periodic symptom reassessments through the application; and clinician follow-up visits or messages to assess response and determine need for additional courses or alternative treatments. Typical sites of service are outpatient primary care offices, behavioral health clinics, telehealth settings, and patient-managed home use via the regulated software platform.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    99213Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, typically 15 minutesUsed for the initial or follow-up visit when the clinician evaluates symptoms, prescribes the digital therapeutic, or reviews progress.
    99421Online digital evaluation and management service, for an established patient, cumulative time during the 7 daysMay be used for asynchronous assessment or management related to patient engagement with the digital therapy.
    96127Brief emotional/behavioral assessment (e.g., depression inventory) with scoring and documentation, per standardized instrumentUsed to bill for symptom measurement (PHQ-9, GAD-7) collected to assess baseline and response to the digital therapy.
    99443Telephone evaluation and management service by a physician, 21-30 minutes of medical discussionApplicable when substantial telephonic management supports initiation or ongoing management of the prescribed digital therapeutic.
    99457Remote physiologic monitoring treatment management services, physician/other qualified health care professional time, first 20 minutesUsed analogously where monitoring and management of patient-reported outcomes via the app require structured time-based care coordination.

    Related Modifiers

    6 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    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…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    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 CodeSpecialtyNotes
    1041C0700XClinical Social WorkerA social worker who holds a master's or doctoral degree in social work from an accredited school of social work in addition to at least two years of p…
    2084P0800XPsychiatry PhysicianA Psychiatrist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders, emotional disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, …
    103T00000XPsychologistA psychologist is an individual who is licensed to practice psychology which is defined as the observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, a…
    103K00000XBehavior AnalystA behavior analyst is qualified by at least a master's degree and Behavior Analyst Certification Board certification and/or a state-issued credential …
    291900000XMilitary Clinical Medical LaboratoryA Department of Defense (DoD) medical clinical reference laboratory not associated with a DoD Hospital or DoD Clinic. An example is the Armed Forces I…
    313M00000XNursing Facility/Intermediate Care FacilityAn institution (or a distinct part of an institution) which- (1) is primarily engaged in providing to residents- (A) skilled nursing care and related …
    281PC2000XChildren's Chronic Disease HospitalHospitals · Chronic Disease Hospital
    133VN1301XOncology Nutrition Registered DietitianAn individual who is a Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition and provides direct nutrition care for individuals at risk for or diagnosed wi…

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    28 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E11.9Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
    E66.9Obesity, unspecified
    F32.0Major depressive disorder, single episode, mild
    F32.1Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate
    F32.2Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe without psychotic features
    F33.1Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate
    F33.2Major depressive disorder, recurrent severe without psychotic features
    F34.1Dysthymic disorder
    F41.0Panic disorder [episodic paroxysmal anxiety]
    F41.1Generalized anxiety disorder

    Showing 1–10 of 28

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Durable Medical Equipment (DME)1 / 3

    5 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Interferential Stimulation Devices (for home use)Moda Health2026-10-01
    Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Tumor Treating Fields (Alternating Electric Field Therapy) Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Bone Growth Stimulators Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    General Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    Prior Authorization for Durable Medical Equipment (DME)Blue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-A9150-NON-PRESCRIPTION-DRUGS

    HCPCS Level II A9150: Non-prescription Drugs

    HCPCS-A9152-SINGLE-ORAL-VITAMIN-MINERAL-DOSE

    HCPCS A9152: Single Oral Vitamin/Mineral/Trace Element

    HCPCS-A9153-MULTIVITAMIN-ORAL-PER-DOSE

    HCPCS A9153: Multiple Vitamins, Oral, Per Dose

    HCPCS-A9154-ARTIFICIAL-SALIVA-1ML

    HCPCS Level II A9154: Artificial saliva, 1 ml

    HCPCS-A9155-ARTIFICIAL-SALIVA-30ML

    HCPCS Level II A9155: Artificial Saliva, 30 mL

    HCPCS-A9156-ORAL-MUCOADHESIVE-PER-1ML

    HCPCS Level II A9156: Oral Mucoadhesive, Per 1 ml

    HCPCS-A9180-PEDICULOSIS-TOPICAL-TREATMENT-PATIENT-ADMINISTRATION

    HCPCS Level II A9180: Pediculosis Topical Treatment for Patient/Caretaker

    HCPCS-A9268-PROGRAMMER-TRANSIENT-INGESTED-CAPSULE

    HCPCS Level II A9268: Programmer for Transient Orally Ingested Capsule

    HCPCS-A9269-PROGRAMMABLE-TRANSIENT-ORAL-CAPSULE

    HCPCS Level II A9269: Programmable Orally Ingested Capsule, Per Month

    HCPCS-A9270-NON-COVERED-ITEM-OR-SERVICE

    HCPCS A9270: Non-covered Item or Service

    Showing 1–10 of 138

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    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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