Summary & Overview
HCPCS T2010: PASRR Level I Identification Screening
HCPCS Level II code T2010 denotes a preadmission screening and resident review (PASRR) Level I identification screening, billed per screen. PASRR Level I screening is a standardized behavioral health safety check performed when individuals are being evaluated for admission to long-term care or skilled nursing settings to identify potential serious mental illness or intellectual/developmental disabilities. Nationally, consistent use of T2010 supports appropriate placement decisions, ensures regulatory compliance for long-term services and supports, and documents screening activity for payers and oversight bodies.
Key payers in scope include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the code's clinical purpose and service context, typical sites of service, and which major payers recognize this screening as a billable item. The publication also summarizes available benchmarks and payment considerations where applicable, outlines common billing practice considerations, and highlights clinical context relevant to admission screening protocols. Data not available in the input will be noted where necessary. This national-level guidance is designed for billing managers, compliance officers, and clinical administrators seeking clarity on the role and documentation of PASRR Level I screening in the admission process.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code T2010 represents preadmission screening and resident review (PASRR) Level I identification screening, billed per screen. This code documents a screening service used to identify individuals who may have serious mental illness or intellectual disability/developmental disability prior to admission to certain long-term care or skilled nursing settings.
Service type: Behavioral health preadmission screening / PASRR Level I identification screening
Typical site of service: Long-term care facilities and skilled nursing facility admission screening (performed prior to or at time of admission)
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult being evaluated for placement in a skilled nursing facility or long-term care setting who requires a Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Level I identification screen to determine whether serious mental illness or intellectual disability may be present. The screen is often completed by a qualified mental health clinician or designated facility staff prior to or within a short timeframe of admission. Documentation includes the screening instrument results, brief clinical interview, review of medical and psychiatric records, and determination of need for further Level II evaluation. The workflow typically involves: referral or admission request; scheduling of the T2010 PASRR Level I screen; collection of history from the patient, family, and sending facility; completion of the standardized screen and scoring; documentation of findings and disposition (no further action, referral for Level II evaluation, or behavioral health placement recommendation); and transmission of results to the admitting facility, payer, and state PASRR authority as required. Common settings are inpatient psychiatric units, nursing facilities, long-term care hospitals, and facility preadmission offices.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | When documentation supports substantially greater effort or complexity for the PASRR screen (rare for standard screens). |