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    OpenPayerBilling CodesProcedures / Professional ServicesHCPCS hcpcs-g0017-psychotherapy-crisis-first-60-minutes-non-office
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    HCPCS G0017: Psychotherapy for Crisis, First 60 Minutes

    Medicare pays $225 on average nationally for this procedure.

    HCPCS Level II code G0017 describes psychotherapy for crisis services representing the first 60 minutes of crisis-focused psychotherapy furnished in an applicable site of service (any non-office site where the non-facility rate applies); service type: psychotherapy for crisis, typical site of service: non-office applicable site of service.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policy, Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal Incontinence.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A patient presents to an emergency department or an urgent care center after an acute behavioral health crisis characterized by severe anxiety, panic, suicidal ideation without a plan, or an acute psychotic episode. The attending psychiatric clinician (psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or licensed clinical social worker in applicable non-office settings) performs an initial crisis psychotherapy intervention focusing on stabilization, risk assessment, de-escalation, and a brief therapeutic plan. The service documented as G0017 represents the first 60 minutes of psychotherapy for crisis furnished in a non-office site of service where non-facility rates apply (for example, emergency department, observation unit, community mental health center, or patient’s residence when applicable under payor rules).

    Clinical workflow:

    • Triage nurse identifies behavioral health complaint and notifies psychiatric crisis team.

    • Clinician conducts focused psychiatric evaluation, including suicide/homicide risk, mental status exam, and safety planning.

    • Clinician delivers time-limited crisis psychotherapy interventions (empathic support, crisis containment, coping strategies, brief problem-solving) for up to the first 60 minutes and documents start and stop times.

    • If additional psychotherapy time is required beyond the initial 60 minutes, subsequent units or separate codes (per payer policy) are considered and documented.

    • Disposition planning occurs (release with outpatient follow-up, inpatient psychiatric admission, or transfer), with documentation supporting medical necessity of the crisis psychotherapy service G0017.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    90791Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation (no medical services)Often performed prior to or as part of crisis assessment; documents diagnostic formulation that may accompany crisis psychotherapy

    90839 | Psychotherapy for crisis, first 60 minutes | Clinically similar to G0017 but billed as CPT in some payer policies or for office settings; used when CPT-based billing is required

    90840 | Psychotherapy for crisis, each additional 30 minutes | Used when psychotherapy extends beyond the initial 60 minutes covered by G0017 and payer policy allows separate reporting

    99282 | Emergency department visit, low to moderate severity | Often billed for the ED medical evaluation portion alongside crisis psychotherapy when medically necessary

    99499 | Unlisted evaluation and management service | Used rarely for atypical or bundled crisis services when no specific code applies

    Related Modifiers

    7 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    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…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    93Modifier 93 denotes that a billed service was delivered synchronously via audio-only telecommunications (real-time telephone or other audio-only system). The AMA added modifier 93 in CPT Appendix A…- When to use: Apply modifier -93 when a synchronous, real-time, two-way patient–provider encounter is conducted entirely via audio-only (telephone or other real-time interactive audio-only…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    103K00000X
    101Y00000X
    207Q00000X
    367500000X
    163WX1100X
    225CA2500X
    207QP0002X
    207YX0901X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Gastroenterology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disordersbcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policyevicore2026-11-05
    Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal IncontinenceCigna2026-10-15
    Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    High-Resolution Anoscopy (HRA)Premera Bluecross2026-10-01
    Gastroesophageal and Gastrointestinal (GI) Services and ProceduresColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-10-01
    Fecal Analysis in the Diagnosis of Intestinal Dysbiosis and Fecal Microbiota Transplant TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Serum Testing for Hepatic Fibrosis in the Evaluation and Monitoring of Chronic Liver DiseaseOscar Health2026-10-01
    Pancreatic Enzyme Testing for Acute PancreatitisOscar Health2026-10-01
    Helicobacter pylori TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-G9490-HOME-ASSESSMENT-NON-HOMEBOUND

    HCPCS G9490: Home Visit Patient Assessment for Non-Homebound Beneficiary

    HCPCS-G0008-INFLUENZA-VACCINE-ADMINISTRATION

    HCPCS G0008: Administration of Influenza Virus Vaccine

    HCPCS-G0009-PNEUMOCOCCAL-VACCINE-ADMINISTRATION

    HCPCS G0009: Administration of Pneumococcal Vaccine

    HCPCS-G0010-HEPATITIS-B-VACCINE-ADMINISTRATION

    HCPCS G0010: Administration of Hepatitis B Vaccine

    HCPCS-G0011-PREP-COUNSELING-HIV-RISK-REDUCTION-ADHERENCE

    HCPCS G0011: Individual PrEP Counseling, HIV Risk Assessment

    HCPCS-G0012-PRE-EXPOSURE-PROPHYLAXIS-INJECTION-HIV-PREVENTION

    HCPCS G0012: Injection of PrEP Drug for HIV Prevention

    HCPCS-G0013-PREP-INDIVIDUAL-COUNSELING-HIV-RISK-REDUCTION

    HCPCS G0013: Individual PrEP Counseling by Clinical Staff

    HCPCS-G0018-PSYCHOTHERAPY-CRISIS-ADDITIONAL-30-MINUTES-NON-OFFICE

    HCPCS G0018: Psychotherapy for Crisis, Additional 30 Minutes

    HCPCS-G0019-COMMUNITY-HEALTH-INTEGRATION-SDOH-CARE-COORDINATION

    HCPCS G0019: Community Health Integration, Person-Centered Assessment

    HCPCS-G0022-COMMUNITY-HEALTH-INTEGRATION-ADDITIONAL-30-MIN

    HCPCS G0022: Community Health Integration, Additional 30 Minutes

    Showing 1–10 of 1996

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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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