Commercial Outpatient Behavioral Health Prior Authorization Codes
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Lists CPT/HCPCS codes and describes outpatient behavioral health service categories (PHP, IOP, rTMS, ABA, ECT, psychological testing) for which prior authorization may be required for Blue Cross Blue Shield - Oklahoma commercial members and participating networks.
No material clinical or coverage changes in this revision.
Coverage stance and criteria
Coverage stance and high-level criteria
Services and codes on this list may require prior authorization and are subject to medical necessity and member benefit plan terms.
Presence on list does not guarantee coverage; provider usually responsible for requesting authorization
Provider must ensure program licensing or accreditation per Claim Administrator requirements
The inclusion of a CPT or HCPCS code on this list does not guarantee coverage. Coverage and payment are determined by the member’s health benefit contract and plan terms, which control available benefits. Providers should verify a member’s eligibility and benefits before submitting claims or scheduling services, because plan-specific limitations, exclusions, or vendor arrangements may affect coverage.
When prior authorization is required by the member’s plan, it must be obtained before services are rendered to confirm medical necessity as defined by the health benefit plan. A prior authorization decision is not a guarantee of payment. Typically the in‑network provider is responsible for requesting prior authorization, though some plans may require the member to initiate the request. Always check eligibility and benefits via Availity or the vendor portal and follow the instructions on the member’s ID card for prior authorization submission and questions.
CPT / HCPCS codes and related coding notes
| 97151 | Bhv Id Assmt By Phys/Qhp |
| 97152 | Bhv Id Suprt Assmt By 1 Tech |
| 97154 | Adaptive Behavior Tx By Tech / Grp Adapt Bhv Tx By Tech |
| 97155 | Adapt Behavior Tx Phys/Qhp |
| 97156 | Fam Adapt Bhv Tx Gdn Phy/Qhp |
| 97157 | Mult Fam Adapt Bhv Tx Gdn |
| 97158 | Grp Adapt Bhv Tx By Phy/Qhp |
| 0362T | Bhv Id Suprt Assmt Ea 15 Min |
| 0373T | Adapt Bhv Tx Ea 15 Min |
| 90870 | Electroconvulsive Therapy |
What providers must do / authorization and verification
Prior Authorization May Be Required
Prior authorization may be required for listed codes and services. Providers must obtain authorization before services are rendered when required by the member's plan; a prior authorization is not a guarantee of payment.
- Effective date: 2026-01-01
- This list is not exhaustive and may be updated throughout the year
Provider Responsibility for Authorization Requests
Providers are responsible for requesting prior authorization when the member is seeing an in‑network provider unless the plan requires the member to request it. Once a request is processed, the decision will be communicated to the provider.
- If you have questions, call the prior authorization number on the member's ID card.
Verify Eligibility & Benefits Before Requesting Authorization
Always verify member eligibility and benefits before requesting prior authorization. Use Availity Essentials (availity.com) or your preferred vendor portal to confirm coverage, prior authorization or pre‑notification requirements, and applicable vendors.
- Availity and Carelon are independent vendors; BCBSOK provides no endorsement or warranty of third‑party services.
- For some services/members, authorization may be managed by Carelon Medical Benefits Management.
Prior Authorization Requirement and Coverage Risk
The presence of a code on this list does not guarantee coverage under a member's contract. Member plan terms control benefits; prior authorization decisions do not guarantee payment.
- Member contracts differ in their benefits — always confirm plan provisions.
Background and program descriptions
Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) are structured outpatient levels of care for mental health and substance use disorders. PHP is a planned day‑program model that typically provides 5–8 hours per day, 5 days per week (not less than 20 hours/week), is medically supervised with psychiatric oversight, and requires weekly face‑to‑face psychiatrist contact. IOP provides structured treatment delivered at least 3 hours per day on two or more days per week and may treat mental illness, substance use disorders, or co‑occurring conditions. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an outpatient procedural therapy usually given 1 session/day, 5 days/week for up to 6 weeks with a taper (typical total ~36 sessions); rTMS courses have a recommended 6‑month interval before repeat and cannot be administered on the same day as PHP or IOP. These program definitions support medical‑necessity and prior‑authorization determinations described elsewhere in this document.
Service and program definitions
Medical necessity criteria by level of care
Partial Hospitalization (PHP)
Covered when ALL of the following are met:
Program typically provides 5–8 hours per day, is medically supervised with physician and nursing staff, and must ensure a psychiatrist sees the patient face-to-face at least once weekly; program must be licensed or nationally accredited as required by the Claim Administrator
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Covered when ALL of the following are met:
Programs may provide integrated services for co-occurring conditions and should offer aligned assessment, treatment and discharge planning
Outpatient procedural therapy (rTMS)
Covered when ALL of the following are met:
Treatment course may be repeated after a 6‑month cessation; rTMS cannot be administered on the same day as PHP or IOP
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) criteria and coding
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
ABA services are described and mapped to specific CPT/HCPCS codes.
Specific treatment modalities covered
rTMS
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Session and visit limits
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