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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesProcedures / Professional ServicesHCPCS hcpcs-g0018-psychotherapy-crisis-additional-30-minutes-non-office
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    HCPCS G0018: Psychotherapy for Crisis, Additional 30 Minutes

    HCPCS Level II code G0018 describes psychotherapy for crisis furnished in an applicable non-office site of service (any place where the non-facility rate for psychotherapy for crisis applies, other than the office setting) and is billed for each additional 30 minutes in addition to the primary crisis psychotherapy service; the service type is crisis psychotherapy and the typical site of service is a non-office outpatient or community behavioral health setting where extended crisis counseling is provided.

    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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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A common scenario involves a patient experiencing an acute behavioral or psychiatric crisis (for example, severe panic, suicidal ideation without attempt, acute psychotic symptoms, or severe agitation) who presents to a non-office outpatient setting where non-facility psychotherapy-for-crisis rates apply — such as an emergency department, an urgent care behavioral health clinic, a community mental health center, or a hospital outpatient department. The patient is triaged by nursing staff, medically cleared as appropriate, and then evaluated by a licensed mental health clinician (psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, or licensed professional counselor) for a focused crisis psychotherapy intervention.

    Typical clinical workflow:

    • The patient arrives via walk-in, referral, or ambulance and is registered at the facility.

    • Triage assesses immediate medical stability and safety; emergency medical needs are addressed first.

    • A mental health clinician performs a focused crisis assessment, documents current mental status, risks (suicidal/homicidal ideation, self-harm), precipitants, and level of impairment.

    • Crisis psychotherapy is delivered, focusing on de-escalation, stabilization, safety planning, brief problem-solving, and mobilizing supports or disposition planning (admission, referral to outpatient services, or discharge with follow-up).

    • If the session extends beyond the initial time unit, additional 30-minute increments are billed using the add-on code G0018 as listed.

    • Documentation includes time spent, specific therapeutic interventions, risk assessment, informed consent for treatment, clinical decision-making about disposition, and any coordination with other providers or payors.

    • Typical clinicians involved include psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional counselors. The service is delivered in a non-office setting where non-facility crisis psychotherapy rates apply.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    90791Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation (no medical services)Often performed prior to or in conjunction with crisis psychotherapy to establish diagnosis and degree of impairment when a comprehensive diagnostic assessment is required.
    90839Psychotherapy for crisis, first 60 minutesUsed for the initial prolonged crisis psychotherapy session when billed under CPT; in some settings, G0018 serves as HCPCS add-on for each additional 30 minutes beyond the primary crisis service.
    90840Psychotherapy for crisis, each additional 30 minutesDirectly corresponds to add-on time increments for extended crisis psychotherapy sessions and is clinically analogous to G0018 for facility billing contexts.
    99284

    Related Modifiers

    9 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…
    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…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    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
    103TC0700X
    103K00000X
    363L00000X
    261QH0100X
    364SC0200X
    3336C0004X
    183500000X
    331L00000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    F20.9Schizophrenia, unspecified
    F31.4Bipolar disorder, current episode depressed, severe, without psychotic features
    F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
    F33.1Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate
    F34.1Dysthymic disorder
    F40.10Social phobia, unspecified
    F41.0Panic disorder [episodic paroxysmal anxiety]
    F41.1Generalized anxiety disorder
    F41.9Anxiety disorder, unspecified
    F43.10Post-traumatic stress disorder, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    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-G0017-PSYCHOTHERAPY-CRISIS-FIRST-60-MINUTES-NON-OFFICE

    HCPCS G0017: Psychotherapy for Crisis, First 60 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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    Emergency department visit, moderate complexity
    Common preceding service in the emergency department workflow where crisis psychotherapy may be delivered after initial ED evaluation.
    99406Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling, intermediate, 3-10 minutesExample of a brief counseling code that may be performed during disposition planning or brief intervention; not specific to crisis therapy but may co-occur in behavioral health visits.