Summary & Overview
HCPCS G0560: Safety Planning Intervention, 20-Minute Units
HCPCS Level II code G0560 denotes a time-based safety planning intervention delivered personally by a qualified practitioner, with each billable unit representing 20 minutes spent developing a personalized safety plan. The code captures structured, face-to-face work to help patients recognize crisis warning signs, deploy internal coping skills, engage social supports, contact behavioral health resources, and make environments safer to mitigate suicide or substance use–related crises. Nationally, this code is significant as payers and providers prioritize evidence-based crisis prevention and integrated behavioral health services in ambulatory settings.
Key payers covered in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will learn what G0560 represents clinically and operationally, where it is typically performed, and which payer relationships and billing contexts are relevant. The publication also outlines common modifiers associated with the code, notes on service delivery and documentation expectations, and highlights where input data are not available. This resource is intended to support coding, billing, and policy understanding of time-based safety planning interventions across outpatient behavioral health and primary care settings.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code G0560 describes safety planning interventions provided personally by a billing practitioner. Each reported unit represents 20 minutes of face-to-face work in which the practitioner assists a patient in developing a personalized safety plan. Key elements addressed include recognizing warning signs of an impending suicidal or substance use-related crisis; identifying internal coping strategies; using social contacts and social settings as distractions from suicidal thoughts or risky substance use; engaging family members, significant others, caregivers, and friends to help resolve the crisis; contacting mental health or substance use disorder professionals or agencies; and making the environment safe.
Service type: Behavioral health safety planning intervention, individual, time-based.
Typical site of service: Outpatient behavioral health clinics, community mental health centers, primary care offices, and other ambulatory settings where a qualified practitioner can perform a face-to-face safety planning session.
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 28-year-old patient presents to an outpatient behavioral health clinic after calling a crisis line for worsening suicidal ideation following a recent substance relapse. The licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) or psychiatrist conducts an initial risk assessment and documents acute risk factors, protective factors, and current intent. As part of the encounter, the clinician provides a structured safety planning intervention lasting 20 minutes or more, personally assisting the patient to: identify early warning signs of crisis; list internal coping strategies; name social contacts and settings for distraction; identify family members or friends to contact for help; list professional crisis resources (hotlines, outpatient clinic numbers, local emergency services); and develop means-restriction steps to make the environment safer. The safety plan is written, reviewed with the patient, and entered into the medical record. If additional time is required beyond 20 minutes, multiple units of G0560 are documented with start/stop times and clinical rationale. Typical workflow includes risk assessment, documentation of consent and capacity, completion of the safety plan, provision of crisis resources, coordination with outpatient or inpatient services as indicated, and scheduling follow-up. Typical sites of service are outpatient behavioral health clinics, community mental health centers, emergency departments, and certified crisis programs where individualized, face-to-face safety planning is performed by an eligible practitioner.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
95 | Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via real-time interactive audio and video | Use when the safety planning intervention is provided via live telehealth with audio-video connection and payer accepts G0560 via telehealth |
GT | Via interactive audio and video telecommunications systems | Use for telehealth delivery under payers that accept GT for telemedicine services |
GQ | Via asynchronous telecommunications system | Rare for G0560; use only if payer permits asynchronous telehealth safety planning (documentation must support modality) |
59 | Distinct procedural service | Use when another distinct service or procedure is reported on the same day and clinical documentation supports separate, distinct interventions |
52 | Reduced services | Use when the service provided is less than usually required and reduced service is documented |
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when substantial additional work beyond typical is documented and payer accepts modifier for payment adjustment |
23 | Unusual procedural services (anesthesia-related historically, limited use) | Use only when payer recognizes 23 for non-operative unusual services and documentation supports it |
78 | Return to operating room (intraoperative) | Not typically used for G0560; included if an institution’s billing system requires surgical modifiers for related encounters (rare) |
95 | (duplicate entry avoided) | |
59 | (duplicate entry avoided) |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
101Y00000X | Psychiatry | Psychiatrists commonly perform or supervise safety planning |
1041C0700X | Clinical Social Worker | Licensed clinical social workers frequently perform safety planning interventions |
103G00000X | Clinical Psychologist | Psychologists in outpatient or crisis settings deliver structured safety plans |
101YP2500X | Addiction Medicine | Addiction medicine specialists provide safety planning for substance use–related crises |
353L00000X | Emergency Medicine | Emergency physicians and ED behavioral health specialists perform safety planning during ED encounters |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
F33.1 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate | Suicidal ideation often occurs in recurrent major depressive disorder; safety planning is commonly indicated |
F33.2 | Major depressive disorder, recurrent severe without psychotic features | Higher suicide risk; safety planning is essential as part of crisis management |
F10.20 | Alcohol dependence, uncomplicated | Substance use disorders increase risk for suicidal behaviors and overdose; safety planning addresses substance-related triggers and means restriction |
F11.20 | Opioid dependence, uncomplicated | Opioid use disorder carries overdose risk and may be associated with suicidal ideation; safety planning includes overdose prevention and contact resources |
R45.851 | Suicidal ideation | Direct indication for safety planning interventions |
F41.1 | Generalized anxiety disorder | Severe anxiety can precipitate crisis states; safety planning may be part of crisis intervention |
F20.9 | Schizophrenia, unspecified | Psychotic disorders carry elevated risk for self-harm; safety planning is used alongside psychiatric stabilization |
Z91.420 | Personal history of self-harm | History of self-harm is a key risk factor prompting creation or update of a safety plan |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
90791 | Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation (no medical services) | Often performed before or in conjunction with G0560 to assess mental status and risk and to formulate the safety plan |
90832 | Psychotherapy, 30 minutes with patient | May be billed for ongoing psychotherapy sessions that expand on coping strategies identified in the safety plan |
90846 | Family psychotherapy (without patient present), 50 minutes | Used when family members are engaged separately to support the safety plan and means restriction |
99406 | Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling, intermediate, greater than 3 minutes up to 10 minutes | Example of brief behavioral counseling codes that may be provided in the same visit for comorbid substance use (short duration codes billed separately when applicable) |
T1017 | Targeted case management, per 15 minutes (HCPCS Level II) | Used in community behavioral health settings for coordination of services and follow-up related to implementation of the safety plan |