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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAlcohol and Drug Abuse TreatmentHCPCS hcpcs-h0004-behavioral-health-counseling-15-minute
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    HCPCS H0004: Behavioral Health Counseling and Therapy, per 15 Minutes

    HCPCS Level II code H0004 describes behavioral health counseling and therapy, billed in 15-minute units, representing psychotherapy or counseling services delivered in outpatient or community behavioral health settings; the service type is behavioral health counseling and therapy and the typical site of service is outpatient behavioral health clinic or community mental health setting, with time-based unit billing per 15 minutes.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Adult Foster Care, Group Adult Foster Care Clinical Coverage Criteria, Home Health Care Payment Policy.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 28-year-old adult presents to an outpatient behavioral health clinic with increasing symptoms of major depressive disorder and difficulty with coping after a recent life stressor. The patient is scheduled for a 45-minute psychotherapy session billed in 15-minute increments using H0004 (behavioral health counseling and therapy, per 15 minutes). The clinical workflow begins with check-in and verification of insurance (for example, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, Medicare), triage by a behavioral health assistant, and review of the most recent intake and PHQ-9 scores by the licensed clinician. The licensed practitioner documents the diagnosis, treatment plan, progress, and time spent in direct therapeutic contact. For a 45-minute session the clinician documents three units of H0004. If part of a multidisciplinary visit, the clinician notes coordination of care with primary care and documents separate medical evaluation if applicable. If the patient receives telebehavioral health, the clinician appends applicable telehealth or place-of-service modifiers per payer policy and documents modality, consent, and technology used. Urgent situations (e.g., imminent risk of self-harm) lead to immediate safety planning, possible higher-level services, and documentation to support medical necessity for extended time or additional services.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    90791Psychiatric diagnostic evaluationOften performed at intake before ongoing psychotherapy billed with H0004 units
    90834Psychotherapy, 45 minutes with patientAn alternative CPT code for 45-minute psychotherapy sessions; used in medical coding systems where CPT is required
    90837Psychotherapy, 60 minutes with patientUsed when sessions extend to 60 minutes instead of billing multiple H0004 units
    99406Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling, intermediate, 3-10 minutesMay be performed alongside behavioral counseling for comorbid tobacco dependence
    96127Brief emotional/behavioral assessment (e.g., depression inventory)Used for outcome measurement before or after therapy sessions

    Related Modifiers

    6 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…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    101Y00000X
    103G00000X
    106H00000X
    1041C0700X
    364SP2800X
    235Z00000X
    246QL0900X
    111NN1001X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Home Health & Hospice1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Adult Foster Carefallon_community_health_plan_inc2027-01-27
    Group Adult Foster Care Clinical Coverage Criteriafallon_community_health_plan_inc2027-01-01
    Home Health Care Payment Policyfallon_community_health_plan_inc2026-12-01
    Private Duty Nursing in the Home SettingAnthem2026-10-01
    Home Health, Skilled, and Custodial Care Services (for Nebraska Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Home Health, Skilled, and Custodial Care Services (for Tennessee Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Home Health, Skilled, and Custodial Care Services (for Kansas Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Private Duty Nursing Services (for Nebraska Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Home Health, Skilled, and Custodial Care Services (for New Jersey Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Home Health, Skilled, and Custodial Care Services (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-H0001-ALCOHOL-DRUG-ASSESSMENT-OUTPATIENT

    HCPCS H0001: Alcohol and/or Drug Assessment

    HCPCS-H0002-BEHAVIORAL-HEALTH-SCREENING-ADMISSION-ELIGIBILITY

    HCPCS H0002: Behavioral Health Screening for Treatment Admission

    HCPCS-H0003-ALCOHOL-DRUG-SCREENING-LAB-ANALYSIS

    HCPCS Level II H0003: Alcohol and/or Drug Screening Laboratory Analysis

    HCPCS-H0005-GROUP-COUNSELING-SUBSTANCE-USE-CLINICIAN

    HCPCS H0005: Alcohol and/or Drug Group Counseling by Clinician

    HCPCS-H0006-ALCOHOL-DRUG-CASE-MANAGEMENT

    HCPCS H0006: Alcohol and/or Drug Services, Case Management

    HCPCS-H0007-ALCOHOL-DRUG-CRISIS-INTERVENTION-OUTPATIENT

    HCPCS H0007: Alcohol and/or Drug Crisis Intervention (Outpatient)

    HCPCS-H0008-SUB-ACUTE-DETOXIFICATION-HOSPITAL-INPATIENT

    HCPCS H0008: Alcohol and/or Drug Sub-Acute Detoxification (Inpatient)

    HCPCS-H0009-ACUTE-DETOXIFICATION-HOSPITAL-INPATIENT

    HCPCS Level II H0009: Acute Detoxification, Hospital Inpatient

    HCPCS-H0010-SUB-ACUTE-RESIDENTIAL-DETOXIFICATION

    HCPCS H0010: Sub-Acute Detoxification, Residential Inpatient

    HCPCS-H0011-ACUTE-DETOXIFICATION-RESIDENTIAL-INPATIENT

    HCPCS H0011: Acute Detoxification, Residential Addiction Inpatient

    Showing 1–10 of 93

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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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